I have great concerns over statistics released earlier this week that show Government targets for A&E departments are still not being met.
Official figures for December show that 7,974 patients spent more than the Government’s targeted four hour waiting time in A&E departments. The Welsh Government also has a target for 99% of patients waiting no more than eight hours – this target was also missed.
The Welsh Labour Government needs to get its act together with regards to our Accident and Emergency departments. The December statistics have confirmed our worst fears that not a single A&E department hit their desired target for 2011. The end of year assessment is that Welsh Labour is failing our NHS and are doing very little about it. One has to question what is the point of these Government set targets if they are consistently not achieved. I can only imagine how demoralising it must be for NHS staff who work incredibly hard to provide the people of Wales with the very best health service possible, but are not given the tools to do it.
From December 2011, the Welsh Government changed the guidance on how A&E departments would record their waiting times. The Statistics Department have indicated that that these changes should lead to a small increase in the percentage waiting less than four and eight hours in A&E departments. Cardiff and Vale University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health boards did not implement the change to the guidance, therefore the actual all Wales figures is likely to be slightly worse than the 89% and 97% figures given.
It is absolutely essential that all Local Health Boards use the same reporting techniques if we are to get a true picture of the exact state of our NHS services. I understand that December was the first month of the changes, but LHBs must ensure that they stick to the exact guidance given, otherwise these vital statistics will be made pointless.
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