Today NHS England published figures on key performance measures from December and January. Below are the main points and charts showing how the figures compare with previous years. For a wider range of quality statistics, browse our interactive indicator pages.
In the month since the last combined performance summary was published, there has been a public debate about how some of these statistics are compiled. We published a blog from Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation at the UK Statistics Authority, who commented on this and other instances where he argues that clarity is needed about how statistics are used. Please note that in our analysis we have included data from all A&E departments (Types 1, 2 and 3) except for the chart on individual trust performance where we have included data from major A&E departments (Type 1) only.
The Nuffield Trust has issued a statement on today's figures, which can be read here.
The Health Foundation's comment can be read here.
Key points:
- In January 2018, the percentage of people spending more than four hours in A&E reached 14.7%, which is almost the same as for January last year. However, the proportion of people waiting longer than four hours in A&E is over three times higher than it was four years ago.
- Total A&E attendances surpassed 2 million in January 2018, which is 6% higher than in January last year.
- Emergency admissions via A&E have been increasing year-on-year, reaching over 389,000 in January 2018.
- Trolley waits have worsened, with over 81,000 patients spending more than four hours from decision to admit to admission in January 2018. Over 1,000 patients waited for more than twelve hours.
- Only three out of 137 major A&E departments (Type 1) met the four-hour A&E target in January 2018.
- The total number of people waiting for a planned hospital admission remained at 4 million in December 2017.
- The proportion of people waiting over 18 weeks for elective admission reached 11.8% in December 2017, which is the highest proportion since March 2009.
- The total number of delayed transfer of care days dropped to 145,000 in December 2017, which is the lowest it has been since August 2015.
- - There has been a slight improvement in cancer waiting times, with 15.8% of patients waiting over 62 days from an urgent GP referral to their first treatment for cancer. This is about 1% lower than it was in December 2016, but over 4% higher than it was six years ago.
Accident and Emergency
Cancer waiting times
(See our recent blog on cancer waiting time targets and this response)