Heading to A&E without any symptoms cost NHS millions
Patients attending A&E with no obvious medical condition cost NHS trusts across the Black Country and Staffordshire millions of pounds the last financial year, figures reveal.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) said many people anxious about their health have “no alternative” but to turn to A&E for treatment, and added that pressures on emergency departments should not fall on the public.
NHS Digital data shows roughly 17,070 admissions had a primary diagnosis of “nothing abnormal detected” at University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust in 2019 to 2020.
These attendances cost the trust around £2.9 million over the period and accounted for seven per cent of all emergency activity.
At the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust it was roughly 13,795 admissions – costing the trust £2.7 million over the period and accounting for nine per cent of all emergency activity.
The data shows that roughly 3,360 admissions had a primary diagnosis of “nothing abnormal detected” at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust in the same year – costing the trust £632,000.
Alternatives
And at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, it was roughly 25 admissions – costing the trust £4,500.
Dr John Oxtoby, UHNM medical director, said: “The public can support our hospitals by remembering that the emergency department should only be used in a critical or life-threatening situation.
“People should only attend A&E for anything classed as an emergency such as choking, chest pain, loss of consciousness, severe blood loss, broken bones, difficulty breathing, deep wounds or a suspected stroke.
"There are various alternative NHS services to A&E available in the Staffordshire area, which may be able to treat your condition more appropriately such as the local pharmacy, GP or you can call 111 first.”
A Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust spokesman said: “To ensure patients are seen as quickly as possible and in the right healthcare setting we would encourage people to call 111 or visit the 111 website in the first instance, if it is not life-threatening.
“NHS 111 can provide medical help fast when it’s not a 999 emergency and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We would also encourage you also to use your local pharmacy.”
