Fewer A&E patients waiting longer

Waiting times at accident and emergency departments in Welsh hospitals have fallen in January.

The figure of 82.3% is up slightly from December 2014, which was 81%, but still well below the 95% Welsh government target.

Performance in Wales is also lagging behind that in England and Scotland - but not Northern Ireland.

In Wales, 73,199 people attended A&E last month and 3,051 spent more than 12 hours there.

A Welsh government spokesman said emergency units are seeing increasingly more patients.

"Despite these increases in demand, the latest statistics for January show that eight out of 10 patients spent less than four hours in A&E units from arrival until admission, transfer or discharge," he said.

'Unacceptable waiting'

"However, the number of patients waiting over 12 hours is unacceptable. We expect health boards to work with local authorities and other partners to ensure that patients can be treated, admitted and discharged appropriately and receive safe and effective care."

Helen Birtwhistle, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said emergency units were under increasing pressure.

"Those in NHS Wales are working to address this demand and reduce waits for patients and it is vital that we recognise their efforts during some challenging times," she said.

"What is needed is a system-wide change in the way that we deliver treatment in order to design care around patients' needs and help people stay healthy and independent for as long as possible."

Fewer A&E patients waiting longer

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