NHS improved emergency waiting times during this winter
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《英国医生杂志》
The NHS in England avoided a winter crisis this year with reduced waiting times for emergency cases and hospital admissions, a report published this week says.
The report, Winter and the NHS 2003-4, showed that during this winter—traditionally winter is the most pressured time of year for the health service—the NHS improved on previous performance in terms of waiting times and influenza vaccination. More than 90% of patients were treated within four hours (the government target) of arrival at hospital accident and emergency departments throughout the winter period—compared with 80% last winter.
Presenting the findings, Professor George Alberti, national clinical director for emergency access, suggested that increased capacity and investment had meant that the NHS now had the infrastructure in place to cope with seasonal rises in demand. Locally agreed escalation procedures had also facilitated a "whole system" approach to winter problems, with measures such as making extra beds available alleviating pressures on hospitals.
"However, there is still much to be done, and in 2005 all patients, unless there are clear clinical reasons, can expect to be seen and treated within four hours," he said.
Delays before admission to hospital were substantially reduced. There were 109 waits of 12 hours reported compared with 1184 in the same period last year. "This is still not acceptable, and the NHS is working hard to improve performance even further," Professor Alberti commented. The audit showed 48% fewer non-clinical transfers of critically ill patients than in the corresponding period in 2000-1. This was attributed to a 33% increase in critical care beds (781 beds) since January 2000.
In the community, 96% of patients had seen a GP or primary care professional within two working days—an increase from 75% in March 2002. An effective flu awareness campaign had resulted in 71% of those aged 65 or over having a flu vaccination free of charge, which represented the highest ever take-up. Subsequently, after an early peak, occurrences of flu were below seasonal levels this winter.
Professor Alberti said: "Winter is the busiest time of year for the health service. More people are sick, more people have accidents, and there is generally more demand for treatment and care. In the past, it was the time of year that NHS staff used to dread. However, with new and more effective ways of working and new planning systems, we are managing the winter pressures much more effectively. We can be confident that patients will receive the same high standard of service from the NHS in January as they would expect to receive in June."
Mr John Heyworth, president of the British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine, said that although progress was being made, the government always claimed that "each winter was the best yet." He said the four hour target for seeing patients in accident and emergency departments was being met 90% of the time and this was improving services. He added: "There is some genuine room for optimism and encouragement that the general trend is certainly better than it has been, but there is still quite a long way to go."
Mr Heyworth said particular problems still existed in getting patients admitted, and hospitals could improve the situation so that beds were available at the right time of day. Shortages of doctors still existed, he added.(London Susan Mayor)
The report, Winter and the NHS 2003-4, showed that during this winter—traditionally winter is the most pressured time of year for the health service—the NHS improved on previous performance in terms of waiting times and influenza vaccination. More than 90% of patients were treated within four hours (the government target) of arrival at hospital accident and emergency departments throughout the winter period—compared with 80% last winter.
Presenting the findings, Professor George Alberti, national clinical director for emergency access, suggested that increased capacity and investment had meant that the NHS now had the infrastructure in place to cope with seasonal rises in demand. Locally agreed escalation procedures had also facilitated a "whole system" approach to winter problems, with measures such as making extra beds available alleviating pressures on hospitals.
"However, there is still much to be done, and in 2005 all patients, unless there are clear clinical reasons, can expect to be seen and treated within four hours," he said.
Delays before admission to hospital were substantially reduced. There were 109 waits of 12 hours reported compared with 1184 in the same period last year. "This is still not acceptable, and the NHS is working hard to improve performance even further," Professor Alberti commented. The audit showed 48% fewer non-clinical transfers of critically ill patients than in the corresponding period in 2000-1. This was attributed to a 33% increase in critical care beds (781 beds) since January 2000.
In the community, 96% of patients had seen a GP or primary care professional within two working days—an increase from 75% in March 2002. An effective flu awareness campaign had resulted in 71% of those aged 65 or over having a flu vaccination free of charge, which represented the highest ever take-up. Subsequently, after an early peak, occurrences of flu were below seasonal levels this winter.
Professor Alberti said: "Winter is the busiest time of year for the health service. More people are sick, more people have accidents, and there is generally more demand for treatment and care. In the past, it was the time of year that NHS staff used to dread. However, with new and more effective ways of working and new planning systems, we are managing the winter pressures much more effectively. We can be confident that patients will receive the same high standard of service from the NHS in January as they would expect to receive in June."
Mr John Heyworth, president of the British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine, said that although progress was being made, the government always claimed that "each winter was the best yet." He said the four hour target for seeing patients in accident and emergency departments was being met 90% of the time and this was improving services. He added: "There is some genuine room for optimism and encouragement that the general trend is certainly better than it has been, but there is still quite a long way to go."
Mr Heyworth said particular problems still existed in getting patients admitted, and hospitals could improve the situation so that beds were available at the right time of day. Shortages of doctors still existed, he added.(London Susan Mayor)