Bristol A&E Waits: thousands forced to wait longer than four hours as ‘perfect storm’ hits NHS

More than 3,000 patients waited longer than four hours in Bristol’s A&E departments last month - with a third waiting for more than 12 hours. Waits in A&E across the country have hit an all-time high.

The figures, released by NHS England, show a marked increase in November waiting times for the University Hospitals (UH) and North Bristol (NB) NHS Trusts between this year and 2021. The University Hospitals’ BRI A&E had 2,006 patients waiting for more than four hours between the decision to admit to admission - 862 waited 12 hours or longer. These waiting lists are up 10% and 22% respectively.

Meanwhile, 1,082 patients waited four or more hours inside NB’s A&E department - 433 experienced 12-hour or longer delays. These results represent a 28.8% and a whopping 633% increase compared to November 2021.

Neither department in Bristol experienced a dramatic rise in admissions, according to NHS England. UH saw 17,183 admissions in November 2022, up 7% from last year’s 16,049 patients while NB admitted 8,228 last month and 8,133 last November - just a 1% increase. Each A&E across England has a target that requires 95% of patients do not stay longer than four hours. Last month, just 68.9% of patients across the nation were seen within this time frame.

Both Bristol departments are below this national average, with UH seeing 56.2% of patients within four hours and NB seeing 58.3%.

National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care, Professor Julian Redhead insists NHS staff are powering through this winter despite “a perfect storm of pressures”.

Dr Redhead said: “Despite the ongoing pressures on services which are exacerbated by flu hospitalisations, issues in social care meaning we cannot discharge patients who are ready, and record numbers needing A&E, staff have powered through to bring down some of our longest waits for care.

“We have already said we are dealing with a perfect storm of pressures this winter, including increased demand for emergency care, and today announced an expansion of mental health crisis services which will ensure people suffering a mental health crisis get the help they need as quickly as possible, and reduce the chances of a patient needing to go to A&E.

“That is all on top of the measures announced NHS’ winter plan published in October which includes new hubs dedicated to respiratory infections and a falls response service to free up ambulance capacity. But the public can also play its part by using the best services for their care – using 111 services for urgent medical advice and 999 in an emergency – and to come forward for vaccinations, if eligible, to protect you and others around you against serious illness.”