All the West's A&Es fail waiting time target

No hospitals in the West met the Government's A&E waiting time target in August 2016, new figures show.

95% of Accident and Emergency patients are supposed to be admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours of arrival.

Below are the percentages of patients seen within 4 hours at each of our region's A&E departments during August:

  • Bristol Royal Infirmary and Bristol Children's Hospital: 88.0%

  • Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals: 90.7%

  • Derriford Hospital: 86.9%

  • Dorset County Hospital: 87.9%

  • Great Western Hospital: 81.8%

  • Musgrove Park Hospital: 89.2%

  • Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske): 84.5%

  • Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital: 89.0%

  • Royal United Hospital: 76.8%

  • Southmead Hospital: 78.8%

  • Torbay Hospital: 88.5%

  • Weston General Hospital: 82.6%

  • Yeovil District Hospital: 94.1%

The best performing was Yeovil District Hospital, on 94.1%. The worst was the Royal United Hospital in Bath, which dealt with just 76.8% of its A&E patients in less than four hours.

As well as a lack of money, some staff blame high numbers of patients turning up to A&E departments with non-emergency conditions. They are recommending Minor Injuries Units, GP surgeries and pharmacies instead.

The Department of Health says financial pressures in the NHS are down to increasing demand and an ageing population. They have pledged an extra £10 billion of NHS funding per year by 2020.