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RCEM Wales Vice President: “Performance data shows the severe pressure faced by Emergency Departments this Spring”

20 June 2019

Figures released today by the Welsh Government for May 2019 highlights continued difficulties faced by Emergency Departments after a difficult Winter.

Data for May 2019 shows that just 72.7% of patients were seen within the four-hour target in major departments. This is an increase of 2.1 percentage points when compared to April 2019, however this represents a decrease of 4.6% when compared to May 2018.

The number of patients waiting eight hours or more in an emergency care facility in May 2019 was 9329, a decrease of 433 patients when compared to April 2019. However, this represents an increase of 42% compared to May 2018.

The number of patients waiting 12 hours or more in May 2019 was 4780. This represents an increase of 70% when compared with May 2018.

Dr Jo Mower, Vice President of RCEM Wales said: “Today’s data shows the true extent of the immediate challenges A&E staff continue to face. Insufficient social care resources impact the entire hospital system and contribute to Emergency Department crowding.

“We welcome the Welsh Government’s commitment to integrating health and social care and believe that in the long term it will go a long way in relieving the strain placed on emergency departments”

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