A&E attendance in region drops again as Covid keeps people at home

NHS England figures show a drop of between five and seven per cent at the trusts in October, from September figures.

A total of 18,890 patients visited A&E at the University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust in October – a drop of five per cent on the 19,909 visits recorded in September. It was also 19 per cent lower than the 23,334 patients seen in October 2019.

At the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, 14,904 patients visited the A&E department in October, with a drop of five per cent on the 15,709 visits recorded during September. It was 30 per cent lower than the 21,443 patients who visited A&E in October 2019.

Figures show 13,833 patients visited Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust’s A&E departments last month – with a drop of five per cent on the 14,548 who visited in September. This was 25 per cent lower than the 18,445 patients in October last year.

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust saw 12,191 patients visit A&E in October, with a drop of seven per cent on the 13,054 visits recorded during September. This was 19 per cent lower than the 15,025 patients seen in October 2019.

While at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, 8,690 patients visited A&E in October – a drop of seven per cent on the 9,321 visits in September. It was also 25 per cent lower than the 11,600 patients seen in October last year.

Across England, A&E departments received 1.6 million visits last month. That was a decrease of six per cent compared to September, and 26 per cent fewer than the 2.2 million seen during October 2019.

The NHS said the drop in attendances nationally is “likely to be a result of the Covid-19 response”.

John Oxtoby, UHNM medical director said: “We are working hard to provide the best level of care that we can for our patients and we are doing everything we can to keep our hospitals safe. We would want to reassure our communities that our hospitals are safe and it is extremely important that anyone with significant health concerns continues to come to us for help.

“All inpatients are tested for Covid-19 on admission and those who test positive are cared for in separate wards to those who test negative.

“If you have an appointment booked at either Royal Stoke or County Hospital, please make sure that you attend so that you can continue with your treatment. Likewise, if you are suffering with a health emergency, please come to our emergency department where we can provide you with the care that you need.”

Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is important that people who need to attend our emergency department continue to do so. We are here to help and our services are open.

“We continue to ask people to use the most appropriate service, such as seeking the advice of a pharmacist, GP, NHS 111 or the ‘Ask NHS’ app for non life threatening issues.”

A spokesman for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said: “We understand that people will be anxious about coming to hospital during this period. However, we want to remind people if you need medical help, the NHS is still here for you.

“If you need urgent medical help, please use the NHS 111 online service. If you cannot get help online, call 111. If it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 999.

“It’s important for patients to attend hospital, or any other NHS appointments, if advised to do so.

“All possible safety precautions have been put in place to protect our patients and staff from the virus.”