The A&E waiting times at Causeway Hospital for treatment and discharge, have improved from January to March 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. This is despite general waiting times continuing to rise.
Recent statistics released by the Department of Health (DfH) have showed that in the first quarter of 2019, Patients breaching the 12 hour waiting time in the A&E department at Causeway Hospital, has dramatically decreased by 319 (~51.9%) compared to the same period last year.
The figures have also showed the the amount of patients waiting on treatment and discharge/admission in the 4-12 hour period also has decreased by 124 (~3.9%) and those treated in under 4 hours increased by 471 (~6.7%)
Of the total number patients attending Causeway A&E in the first quarter of this year, GP referrals accounted for 24.1% in January (26.3% 2018), 22.9% in February (22.6% 2018) & 20.2% in March (21.9% 2018).
IN PATIENT & DAY PROCEDURE WAITING TIMES
HOWEVER despite the improvement in Causeway A&E, waiting times for Inpatients and Day Procedures, have continued to ‘escalate’ in Northern Ireland, causing a ‘serious backlog’ for patients waiting on being seen and treated. The (DfH) along with the release of the current figures have said:
The causes of NI’s serious waiting list backlog have been well documented. Waiting times have been escalating since 2014, as pressures on the health budget meant limited funding was available to suppress waiting time growth.
Significant and sustained investment will be needed to address the backlog. In addition, longer term transformation reforms will be vital to make sure the problem does not recur. Transformation is underway and will undoubtedly involve some difficult decisions.
Consolidating some hospital services in regional centres of excellence will improve capacity and help the health and social care system keep up with growing demand.
DfI Statement.
As of 31st March 2019, 87450 patients were waiting on admission to hospital either as an inpatient or as a day procedure. This is up 8.5% from 31st March 2018. Of those patients, 56871 were waiting more than 13 weeks, again an increase against end of same quarter 2018 and those who have had to wait 52+weeks totalled 22350, up from 16454 in the same period last year.
As of 31st March 2019 the amount of patients who received treatment was 43824, a slight improvement of 5.4%, against the end of the same quarter in 2018.
