NursingNotes
  • login
  • signup
  • Latest News
  • Clinical Updates
  • Professional
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
NursingNotes
No Result
View All Result

Home > News

Hancock hints at scrapping four-hour A&E targets

The majority of A&E departments consistently fall short of meeting the target. 


16 January 2020
Emergency Department

Adobe

Fourteen A&E departments have been piloting new targets since last year.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has hinted the government is looking to scrap the four-hour waiting time target in A&E.



Hospitals must aim to ensure 95% of patients are seen, treated and either admitted or discharged within 4 hours. In recent years the overwhelming majority of A&E departments in England have consistently fallen short of meeting this target.

Fourteen A&E departments across the county have been piloting new standards since last year.

Mr. Hancock told BBC Radio 5 Live that “the right target” and a “clinically appropriate” one was needed. Adding that the current system was currently being reviewed.

The news comes only days after it was revealed the “often unsafe” practice of treating patients in corridors is now becoming more prevalent due to an ever-increasing demand on services.


The picture is bad.

The British Medical Association’s Lead for Emergency Medicine, Dr Simon Walsh said:  “Whatever way you look at the state of emergency care, the picture is bad. Against the current four-hour target, the emergency care system has been woefully underperforming despite the extraordinary efforts of frontline staff,”

“It is crucial that any proposed changes to current targets are agreed with clinicians to ensure that patient safety is not compromised.”

“Targets are an important indicator when services are struggling, and there is a very real concern that any change to targets will effectively mask underperformance and the effects of the decisions that politicians make about resourcing the NHS.

“Ultimately, replacing targets does not address the fundamental issues of capacity and resourcing within the NHS and the resulting pressure that has led to such poor performance in emergency departments in recent years. The emergency care system is at breaking point and this, above all else, must be addressed.”




Popular

Patient face mask in GP

GP practices can now deregister patients for ‘unrealistic service demands’

2 June 2022

student nurse staff nurse

Student nurses ‘used and abused’ on placements

13 June 2022

RCN

Nursing staff demand immediate review of ‘not fit for purpose’ Agenda for Change pay and conditions

8 June 2022

Insight

Busy A&E waiting room

‘The NHS is having its worst winter ever – and the reasons run much deeper than COVID’

28 January 2022

Hospital curtain intensive care

‘During the Downing Street Christmas Party we were caring for dying patients and forbidden from seeing family’

8 December 2021

Vaccine inPPE

‘Making vaccination compulsory for NHS frontline workers likely to make patients suffer’

19 November 2021


Related Posts

Ambulances lining up outside a hospital in the UK
News

Nursing director warns his ambulance service will entirely collapse in August

30 May 2022
Medical students listening sitting at desk
News

Doctors compare nurses to ‘flight attendants’ in row over ACP role

21 May 2022
Patient Falls Risk with IV
Workforce

A&E staff in tears as patients ‘wait days for beds’ and ‘die without dignity’

6 April 2022
NursingNotes

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk

Navigate Site

  • Who are we?
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Agenda for Change Pay Scales

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • Clinical
  • Education
  • Health Politics
  • Opinion
  • Resources

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk