Research and analysis

A&E delays: why did patients wait longer last winter?

Findings of our research into increased waiting times in A&E, October-December 2014/15.

Applies to England

Documents

A&E delays: why did patients wait longer last winter?

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Our findings at a glance

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Conclusions from the 10 hypotheses tested

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Our econometric analysis

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Details

In quarter 3 2014/15, the performance of accident and emergency departments (A&E) against the 4-hour standard reached its lowest in 10 years.

Our detailed report shows that the target 4-hour emergency care indicator is a measure of the performance of the whole health and care system, not just emergency care departments; the findings show that across England the rest of the hospital struggled to cope with the increase in admissions because of very high occupancy rates.

Watch a recording of our October 2015 webinar ‘A&E delays: method, findings and next steps’

Hear the team talk through the findings, and representatives of the new Emergency Care Improvement Programme share how these are helping inform their work this winter.

A&E delays webinar: method, findings and next steps.

Published 3 September 2015