Monday 9 December 2024
Responding to Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s comments to trust leaders this morning regarding “critical” A&E situation Dr Adrian Boyle, President of The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “We welcome the Health Secretary’s acknowledgement that our Emergency Departments are facing a Winter Crisis that is unsafe, and the urgent need to address dangerously long stays in A&E.
“However, we must be explicit in where exactly the danger lies – and what contributed to hundreds of avoidable deaths per week last year – which is in stays of over 12 hours or more.
“Effort to reduce stays of this length must be given the same priority as treating people within the current target of four-hours.
“But EDs, and their staff who are already working at maximum capacity – must be supported to, and recognised for, their efforts to reduce them.
“We recommend that hospitals are performance-managed based on the proportion of patients waiting 12 hours or more from their time of arrival, alongside the four-hour target.
“Let us be clear on what we are aiming for – a reduction in avoidable deaths.
“This can only be achieved when there is the political will and support from those in power, as well as a functioning and appropriately resourced social care system.
“This is a matter of life and death, and action must fit the need.”
