§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the periods of time patients have to wait for beds in the accident and emergency department and medical assessment unit of the Dudley Group of Hospitals. [9271
§ Yvette CooperThe data for most recent period, March to May 2001, show that patients in the accident and emergency department waited for the following periods for admission in percentage terms:
percentage Admitted within two hours 85.9 Admitted two to four hours 6.4 Admitted over four hours 7.7 Source:
The Dudley Group of Hospitals National Health Service Trust
The Medical Assessment Unit does not record data on patients waiting for admission as patients are frequently discharged home, or to other types of care, as well as being admitted to hospital.
A combination of continued emergency pressures, industrial action and delayed discharges have contributed to the current pressure on services, including length of wait in the accident and emergency department.
However, the industrial action ended on 22 May 2001, and in regard to delayed discharges, Dudley Health Authority has recently identified £100,000 of non-recurrent funds to alleviate immediate pressures in the 148W short term. The local health and social services agencies are involved in discussions to seek solutions for medium to longer term.