Deb Sutton, Director of Client Support at Teletracking shared with us her thoughts on A&E wait times...
A&E wait times have proven to be a hot topic over recent years, as more hospitals struggle to meet set goals. It therefore comes as no surprise that the NHS has been urged to scrap the four hour A&E waiting time target. From a sprained finger to a heart attack, the scope of emergencies that are rushed through the A&E department is huge. This is highlighting the fundamental flaws in the set of standards currently in place, with patient needs fluctuating profusely. Instead of focusing on one very varied department, it is clear that a system needs to be put in place that goes beyond A&E and monitors how efficient the entire patient journey is, from admission to discharge.
It is all about measuring what matters. Poor bed availability at key times of day is to blame for many of the long wait times. Monitoring idle bed times can allow hospitals to gain a deeper understanding of the delays patients face. Some hospitals have tried adding wards and extra beds in the hope of reducing their patient wait times but this is an expensive and often unnecessary process. Before taking this step hospitals need to first better understand the problems they have. Is it really that there aren’t enough beds or is it that they don’t have visibility of the delays affecting bed availability? By measuring idle bed time and the reasons behind them, there will be a clearer picture of the overall patient flow and therefore a clearer direction as to how to deliver better patient experiences.
