Over 12,500 patients visited A&E and MIUs in Cornwall in one month
Figures show December 2021 was busier than the same time in 2020
Last updated 14th Jan 2022
Fewer patients visited A&E and Minor Injury Units in Cornwall last month, but figures show attendances were higher than over the same period last year.
Data from NHS England shows 12,620 patients attended casualty and MIUs at Royal Cornwall Hospitals' NHS Trust in December.
That was a drop of 5% on the 13,346 visits recorded during November, but 19% more than the 10,576 patients seen in December 2020.
The figures show attendances were below the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic.
In December 2019, there were 15,958 visits to A&E at Royal Cornwall Hospitals' Trust.
The majority of attendances last month were via minor A&E departments, those which treat minor injuries and illnesses such as fractures, cuts and bruises, while 41% were via major departments with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care.
Across England, A&E departments received 1.9 million visits last month, a decrease of 8% compared to November but 27% more than the 1.5 million seen during December 2020.
What is the picture in Cornwall's hospitals?
In December, 76% of arrivals to A&E and Minor Injury Units at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' Trust were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%
1,197 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit
Of those, 611 were delayed by more than 12 hours
Separate NHS Digital data reveals that in November, the median time to treatment was 44 minutes.
Around 2% of patients left before being treated.
Cornwall's health services are currently experiencing high demand, prompting an open letter asking people to help ease the pressure.
Shortly after Christmas, Derriford Hospital in Plymouth declared a 'critical incident' because of staff shortages due to Covid.
Cornwall's healthcare system has been operating at that level since October, however bosses say it is not as badly affected by absences as other area.
In a statement, NHS Kernow said: "Our health and care system continues to manage ongoing and sustained pressures for clinical services, having declared a critical incident in October 2021.
"We continue to work together to manage demand and ask people to continue use the most appropriate service for their health and care need, including managing minor ailments at home or with the support of a community pharmacist, and collecting loved ones from hospital as soon as they’re told they’re ready to leave.
"The single most important thing people can do to support our NHS and care system is to get their COVID-19 vaccination to protect themselves, and others.
"Our GPs, community pharmacists and vaccination hubs have vaccinated an incredible 88%* of our eligible population during the past month, and it’s not too late for anyone to get their first, second or booster jabs. Visit kernowccg.nhs.uk for details of your nearest session.
"Our staff continue to work very hard to deliver frontline services and care, and we are currently not experiencing levels of staff absence in Cornwall that is being experienced in other parts of the country.
"That doesn’t mean we are complacent and continue to monitor the situation and are identifying clinical staff who may not be working on the front line to help us continue providing safe patient care to those who need it".