Short wait for emergency care in Doncaster

The latest statistics for A&E admissions and waiting times reveal that most patients using Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were seen within the Government target four-hour period.

The figures for October show that 95 per cent of 14,519 patients were seen within the time frame.

The figure is three per cent better than England’s average, which is 92 per cent.

David Purdue, chief operating officer, said he was pleased with the results but urged people to consider the best options for them when seeking medical advice at a time when all health service providers were expecting to be particularly busy.

He said: “At Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals we have been using national best practice to triage and treat patients through our emergency departments, which has enabled us to see the majority of our patients within four hours.

“We work closely with all the health organisations across Doncaster and Bassetlaw to make sure local people receive the most appropriate urgent care treatment for them, at the right place.

“More recently in Doncaster local commissioners have transformed urgent care services by introducing the new unplanned care centre for minor health problems, and a newly launched same- day health centre that treats people within 24 hours of requesting an appointment.

“Winter can be extremely busy for all our health services and we’re asking local people to continue to choose wisely and seek advice from their general practitioners, pharmacies and the NHS Advice Line 111, which helps our emergency services to concentrate on treating seriously ill patients.”

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides care at three hospitals – Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Thorne Road, Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, and Bassetlaw Hospital, Worksop.

The four-hour target was introduced by the Department of Health for all NHS acute hospitals in England in 2004.

At the time, the aim was that by the end of the year at least 98 per cent of patients attending any A&E department across the country would be seen, treated, admitted or discharged within the time frame.

The target was later reduced to 95 per cent by the Department of Health in June 2010.