Health Minister disappointed by waiting times

Apr 25 2008 by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail

Patients using Wales’ busiest hospitals are still spending too long waiting in A&E departments.

Health Minister Edwina Hart last night said she was “disappointed” hospitals had failed to meet the targets – again.

She has written to all NHS trust and local health board chairs demanding an explanation.

Official government figures reveal that only three NHS trusts – Pontypridd and Rhondda, Gwent Healthcare and Swansea NHS Trust – met the target of 95% of patients spending less than four hours in A&E last year.

And only four NHS trusts met the four and eight hour A&E targets.

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, which runs Wales’ largest hospital, the University Hospital of Wales, only managed to discharge, treat or transfer 90% of patients within the golden four hours.

And around 3% of patients seen in A&E spent more than eight hours in the department.

Jonathan Morgan, Cardiff North AM and the Shadow Health Minister, said: “There appear to be few, if any signs, of improvement in the experience for patients waiting at A&E departments in Welsh hospitals.

“These latest figures highlight yet again the need for the Assembly Government to provide funding to expand capacity for emergency care.

“If they fail to do so – and make real progress in introducing nurse-led walk-in centres in Wales – this problem will continue to get worse.”

And an Assembly Government spokesman said: “Mrs Hart, is disappointed that not all NHS trusts have achieved the four and eight hour accident and emergency waiting times targets.

“However, it must be noted there has been an improvement in performance, despite increased demand, and staff should be praised for their hard work and efforts.

“Mrs Hart has written to the trust and LHB chairs asking for an explanation where targets have not been met and for what measures they are going to take to improve performance.”