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10
Apr 2023
Harrogate hospital reports improved A&E waiting times
People attending A&E at Harrogate District Hospital are experiencing much shorter waiting times than earlier in the year when some patients were forced to stay at the hospital for 12 hours or more.
The department has been under-pressure throughout the winter due to a higher average number of admissions as well as a fresh wave of covid and flu inpatients that has saw the hospital almost completely full every day.
Harrogate has also been a high number of patients aged over 70 attending A&E compared to nationally.
While attendance figures have returned to near pre-covid levels, many patients have experienced longer-than-usual stays due to the high bed occupancy.
It meant some A&E patients had to stay overnight, which has put further strain on staff who have had to conduct medicine rounds, serve meals, wash patients and conduct ward rounds.
Industrial action by paramedics, nurses and junior doctors has also put pressure on the hospital.
To improve the situation in A&E, the hospital introduced a new streaming model for minor injuries so staff can focus on patients with more serious conditions.
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Speaking at a public board meeting of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust last week, chief executive Russell Nightingale said the changes have worked.
Mr Nightingale said the number of people waiting for 12 hours was down to the single figures in March.
He said:
As the hospital moves out of its most challenging winter period, next week’s junior doctors strike means there is likely to be some disruption for patients.
The strike is set to take place from 7am on Tuesday, April 11, until 7am on Saturday, April 15.
Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of HDFT, told the meeting the hospital has a “robust plan” in place to deal with any disruption should the strike goes ahead as planned.
He said:
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