Drop in visits to A&E at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust last month

Fewer patients visited A&E at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust last month – but attendances were higher than over the same period last year, figures reveal.

NHS England figures show 13,296 patients visited A&E at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust in April.

That was a drop of 12% on the 15,095 visits recorded during March, but 2% more than the 13,068 patients seen in April 2021.

The figures show attendances were well above the levels seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic – in April 2020, there were 6,373 visits to A&E at sites run by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust.

The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 1% were via minor injury units.

Meanwhile, around 2% were via consultant-led departments with single specialties, such as eye conditions or dental problems.

Across England, A&E departments received 2 million visits last month.

That was a decrease of 7% compared to March, but 9% more than the 1.9 million seen during April 2021.

At Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust:

In April:

There were 553 booked appointments, down from 587 in March

Just 77% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%

926 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit – 7% of patients

Of those, 96 were delayed by more than 12 hours