Oxford hospitals urge patients to use A&E wisely this winter

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 16:24 · Archive

Oxford University Hospitals has asked patients to choose healthcare services wisely ahead of winter as waiting times are expected to lengthen.

Oxford University Hospitals has asked patients to choose their healthcare services carefully this winter. The hospital trust warned that Emergency Departments should be used only for life-threatening conditions, cautioning that patients attending with minor complaints would likely face long waits.

The Health Foundation think tank has said the NHS will fall 'a long way short' of waiting time targets if recent trends continue. Its analysis suggests that if the pattern holds, patients could wait around twice as long for treatment by 2029 as the target set by the Labour Government. The NHS has made progress in reducing waiting times since Labour came to power, but the Health Foundation points to a rise in referrals for treatment, predominantly from GPs, which currently total 21.7 million a year.

Oxford University Hospitals' latest figures show that 81 per cent of patients attending its Emergency Departments were treated within four hours, against a national target of 84 per cent. The trust reported sustained demand and increased Emergency Department attendances, though 2.1 per cent of patients waited over 12 hours compared to the national standard of 3 per cent.

How it is being reported

• Oxfordshire hospitals issue urgent warning for A&E ahead of cold weatherOxford University Hospitals has called on patients to choose healthcare services wisely this winter as a think tank claimed it was likely the NHS would fall 'a long way short' of waiting time targets.Oxford Mail · 8 Oct, 16:00
• Oxfordshire hospitals issue urgent warning for A&E ahead of cold weatherOxford University Hospitals has called on patients to choose healthcare services wisely this winter as a think tank claimed it was likely the NHS would fall 'a long way short' of waiting time targets.Oxfordshire Guardian · 8 Oct, 16:00

In this story: Oxford University Hospitals · Health Foundation · Labour Government · Oxfordshire

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