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Press release: NHS Confederation response to Audit Commission report and government strategy on A&E

25 Oct 2001

Commenting on the report issued today by the Audit Commission and the Government's Accident & Emergency (A&E) Strategy, NHS Confederation chief executive, Stephen Thornton said, "the decline in performance in A&E departments, although worrying, is hardly surprising given the relentless pressure that NHS hospitals are under.

"Many of the problems lie outside the A&E department and have been well rehearsed. That 20 percent of patients need further treatment and suffer some of the worst delays in A&E is an indication of what is happening in the rest of the hospital when working to their full capacity all the time.

"We broadly welcome the direction of the strategy published by the Government today and the additional money that has been allocated for use in A&E this year. The desire to use facilities in the private sector is interesting, however, the Confederation is keen to ensure that a long term strategy is put in place to reduce pressure on A&E in the NHS.

Mr Thornton continued, "In the meantime, local organisations will need to be careful that the extra capacity purchased from the private sector does not decrease capacity within the NHS."

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Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation is the voice of NHS management. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts, health authorities and local health groups in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
   

Contact details

1. Contact Media Relations Manager Joanna Clason on 020 7074 3306 or 07798 571078 or Senior Media Officer Amy Darlington on 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.
   

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