Romford hospital hits its four hour target for A&E waiting times
Queen's Hospital, Rom Valley Way, Romford - Credit: Archant
Queen’s Hospital’s A&E department met its four-hour waiting target for the first time in four years, the trust running it announced today (Wednesday).
In July 95.6 per cent of the thousands of patients who visited Queen’s and King George Hospitals, in Goodmayes and Romford respectively, were seen, treated and admitted or discharged within four hours. It is the first time in four years the target was met over a whole month.
Consultant Ayo Ahonkai said: “This is a huge achievement for the organisation, and something that we could only do by working as a team. We are so pleased that patients are seeing the benefits.”
Emergency waiting times at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust’s (BHRUT’s) hospitals, have been steadily improving since the beginning of the year.
Both A&E departments came under pressure this winter and in December the percentage of patients seen within four hours fell to 76.8pc – the lowest in the four year period.
Dr Ahonkai added: “There is such a positive atmosphere in our Emergency Departments now – not just amongst our patients, but also amongst staff. Now we will be working hard to sustain this performance so that our patients continue to receive the fast, safe service they deserve.”
A range of changes were brought in to reduce waiting times in the departments.
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Chief operating officer Sarah Tedford said: “I’m delighted that the new initiatives we have put in place have made a real difference to our patients.
“Not only are they helping to reduce waiting times, but they are also improving the patient experience – making sure that people are being treated in the right place at the right time, and can get back to the comfort of their own homes as soon as they are ready, or to a suitable place of care.”
A&E waiting times were also one of the areas highlighted for improvement by the Care Quality Commission when it visited the trust’s hospitals in March this year.
In its report, published in July, it said that although the trust should remain in special measures significant improvements had been made since its last inspection in 2013.
