Rise in visits to A&E at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals

More patients visited A&E at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals last month, with demand rising above the levels seen over the same period last year.

NHS England figures show 28,721 patients visited A&E at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust in October.

That was a rise of 5% on the 27,434 visits recorded during September, and 51% more than the 19,029 patients seen in October 2020.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in October 2019, there were 26,791 visits to A&E at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals.

The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 42% were via minor injury units.

Meanwhile, around 8% were via consultant-led departments with single specialties, such as eye conditions or dental problems.

Across England, A&E departments received 2.2 million visits last month.

That was an increase of 2% compared to September, and 36% more than the 1.6 million seen during October 2020.

At Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust:

In October:

61% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%

1,844 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit

Of those, 291 were delayed by more than 12 hours

Separate NHS Digital data reveals that in September:

The median time to treatment was 138 minutes

Around 8% of patients left before being treated