05.06.13
A&E performance ‘worsening’ – Monitor
Monitor has raised concern over the recent increase in Foundation Trusts failing to meet A&E four hour waiting times targets, supporting FTN research that suggests failures in primary care are to blame.
58% of all FTs with A&E units breached their target in the last quarter and the number failing on national targets on cancer referral treatment waiting times also increased
Monitor is working with NHS England and the NHS Trust Development Authority to help tackle problems with A&E.
Stephen Hay, managing director of provider regulation said: “Our latest monitoring of foundation trusts shows that overall A&E performance worsened over the winter. We recognise that some of the causes and answers to this problem lie outside the control of individual organisations, particularly in primary care or social care.
“Trusts should therefore work with partners in their local health economy to tackle the issues affecting A&E, but should use their own resources to fix those issues that are within the gift of hospitals in order to prevent further problems next winter.”
He added: “Financially, foundation trusts are doing reasonably well, but they need to improve their planning, particularly for capital expenditure.
“Foundation trusts have the freedom to make a surplus every year as long as they plan to ensure that it is invested on behalf of patients. The amount they have stored up this year is well above what was expected, and we will encourage the sector to use its strong financial position to help ease capacity issues and continue to improve services for their patients.”
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