Every A&E misses waiting time target

Thousands of patients are waiting more than four hours for treatment in London's over-stretched casualty departments, according to figures released today.

Every accident and emergency department in the capital has failed to meet a government target to either admit, treat or discharge patients within the strict time frame. There have been marked improvements in waiting times at almost all the hospitals in the past year, but the National Audit Office findings show current staffing levels cannot cope with demand for emergency medical care.

London's worst performer was Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust, with one in seven emergency patients waiting longer than the recommended time.

Dr John Lister of the London Health Emergency watchdog said the figures were a symptom of the decline in local GP services and an increasing dependence on A&E departments by Londoners in need of urgent medical advice.

"GP services just aren't able to cope with the increasing number of people needing help after hours," he said. "The number of people going

to A&E over the last few years has been increasing. London's hospitals are desperately short of staff and resources to deliver the required emergency care."

The NAO's report, based on Health Department statistics, will be presented to Parliament by Sir John Bourn today. One of London's best performers was Kingston Hospital NHS Trust. Between April and June only 2.9 per cent of its casualty patients waited longer than the government target. This was a massive improvement on that period last year.

Another success was St Mary's, Paddington, where patients waiting more than four hours fell 83 per cent.

Nationwide, the report found more than half of NHS trusts did not have enough A&E staff to provide a proper round-the-clock service. Reductions in junior doctors' hours also affected the speed and quality of A&E services. Dr Lister said: "London's A&E departmentsare some of the hardest to staff. More money needs to be put in at the sharp end. We have this problem of staff shortages caused by poor rates of pay, incredible work pressure and the spiralling cost of living in London."

Elaine Maxwell, director of nursing at Barking, Havering and Redbridge, said: "We have seen a massive increase in the number of people attending A&E. I suspect our current performance is significantly better than the one that is being reported between April and June."