Russells Hall Hospital missing A&E waiting time target
Russells Hall Hospital fell well below the national target for seeing patients within four hours during April, it has been revealed.
Just 85 per cent of A&E patients were seen within the NHS limit – a long way short of the 95 per cent target.
The figures from the latest board meeting papers also show a steep drop from last spring, when the number of patients seen was just short of the national average for more than six months.
Councillor Paul Brothwood, leader of the UKIP party in Dudley, labelled the waiting time as being 'outrageous'.
He said: "It is clear that senior management needs to be looked at. I think that it is outrageous.
"We are constantly in a battle of more money being spent on agency staff and then figures like this are being revealed and it is quite frankly unacceptable.
"We know the stresses that are on our hospital staff but these waiting times need to be brought down.
"It seems that walk-in clinics have also failed in doing their bit."
Speaking about the drop in targets at the hospital over the past year, Councillor Brothwood added: "We are continually relying on agency staff due to the huge cuts within the sector, and this is showing in these figures.
"It is clearly taking its toll on the NHS."
It comes as it was revealed at the start of this year that an influx of patients had been admitted to the hospital over the Christmas and New Year period.
Hospital chiefs revealed that around 620 patients had attended A&E each day and said the hospital was experiencing 'unprecedented demand', leading to increased waiting times in A&E.
People coming into A&E increased by six per cent overall compared to the same period last year, which itself was described as 'extremely busy'.
Due to being in a pre-election period, Trust bosses could only respond with a factual statement.
Diane Wake, Chief Executive at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation, said: "In April 2017, 84.94 per cent of patients who attended Accident and Emergency were seen, treated, admitted or discharged within four hours of arrival. This figure is stated in the Trust’s Finance and Performance report which will be presented to public board on Thursday June 1 2017."
