FIGURES for Herefordshire County Hospital show that 73% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%.

That was as more patients visited A&E at the Wye Valley Trust last month, with demand rising above the levels seen over the same period last year.

NHS England figures show 6,061 patients visited A&E at Wye Valley NHS Trust in May.

That was a rise of 10% on the 5,526 visits recorded during April, and 43% more than the 4,230 patients seen in May 2020.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in May 2019, there were 6,009 visits to A&E at the Wye Valley Trust.

OTHER NEWS: 

All of last month's attendances were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care.

Across England, A&E departments received 2.1 million visits last month.

That was an increase of 11% compared to April, and 65% more than the 1.3 million seen during May 2020 – a reflection of lower-than-usual numbers for that month as more people avoided hospitals during the early days of the pandemic.

At Wye Valley NHS Trust:

In May:

  • There were 45 booked appointments, down from 156 in April
  • 73% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%
  • 195 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit