NHS Confederation: Media centre

Press release: NHS Confederation welcomes Healthcare Commission's A&E report as proof of patient satisfaction and reduced waiting times

08 Aug 2005

The NHS Confederation, which represents more than 90 per cent of NHS organisations, notes the key finding of the Healthcare Commission's A&E report that A&E services have improved despite the fact that there have been very large challenges placed upon staff in terms of increased patient demand.

Nigel Edwards, Director of Policy at the NHS Confederation, said: "The majority of patients are happy with the care that they receive. As more improvements are made it is likely that demand will increase further. It is important now to try and build on the fact that 71 per cent of patients rated the care they receive in A&E departments as 'excellent' or 'very good' and make further improvements."

The Healthcare Commission's report identifies huge improvements in reduced waiting times. It states that all NHS trusts in England met the government's target that 90 per cent of A&E patients should be admitted or discharged within four hours by the end of 2004.

Nigel Edwards said: "Historically the media was full of horror stories about patients waiting on trolleys in the corridors of A&E departments for hours - that's simply not the case anymore. Not only have all trusts met the government's 90 per cent target but the vast majority are now hitting the 98 per cent target. We must not forget what a massive challenge this has been for NHS A&E staff.

"Increasing development of innovative models of delivering emergency care will help to ensure that waiting times are kept low and patient satisfaction continues to improve. For example, minor injuries units and walk-in centres mean that patients with non-emergency conditions are seen more quickly and A&E departments can concentrate on the most urgent cases."

However, the Healthcare Commission's report identifies wide variations in the quality of clinical care in A&E departments across trusts.

Nigel Edwards said: "The report rightly calls for regular monitoring of the quality of care in A&E departments. We believe that the responsibility of monitoring lies with both the board members and clinical staff. It is about mangers and front-line clinicians working in unison to achieve the same goal - improving the patient experience."

ENDS

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90 per cent of the organisations that make up the NHS throughout the UK. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.