An average of over 90 people a day wait more than eight hours in emergency care facilities across Wales.
That’s according to the latest official government statistics released today, which show the four and eight hour targets have not been met.
The last time 95 per cent of patients were seen within four hours at emergency care facilities – across Wales – was in August 2009.
86,764 people visited either a major A and E department or a minor injury unit during March this year. 10,421 people waited more than four hours. 2,906 waited over eight.
That means an average of over 300 patients sat in an emergency care facility for over four hours in March (and an average of over 90 for more than eight).
Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said:
“It is almost certain that right now – somewhere in Wales – a number of patients have been waiting far too long for emergency care.
“That’s particularly distressing for young children and their parents, older people and the chronically ill. Given it’s now over two and a half years since the four hour emergency care target was met, I would expect an apology from the minister and a promise to do more.
“A trend of rising waits and slight improvements has now been the norm for far too long.
“Ignorance may be bliss for the minister and her team – who routinely ignore this failure – but it’s those in need of urgent care who continue to suffer every day.”
