News

11.03.19

NHS reveals plans to scrap four-hour A&E target to focus on quality

The NHS has unveiled plans to overhaul its four-hour A&E target and announced it will trial new “rapid care measures” which will prioritise treating the most extreme cases quicker instead of treating all patients within four hours.

The NHS review of clinical standards confirms that the NHS’s flagship performance marker may be scrapped with changes to A&E targets accompanied by new plans for waiting times for cancer, mental health and planned operations.

It said the targets, which requires 95% of patients to be seen in time, were becoming outdated and comes as the NHS has not met its four-hour A&E target since July 2015. Last month A&E performance slumped to its lowest level on record.

The review, led by NHS England’s medical director Stephen Powis, sets out proposals for five new accident and emergency targets which will be piloted later this year and could be introduced in 2020.

Patients with heart attacks, acute asthma, sepsis, stroke, and those experiencing a mental health crisis will receive emergency care within one hour – and average times for all patients could replace the four-hour standard.

The target, introduced in 2004, was met by just two hospital trusts last month, and NHS bosses have blamed the model for distorting priorities with a large number of patients being admitted to hospital just before the four-hour mark.

Last month Lord Prior said the targets “have had their day,” signalling plans to abolish the key performance metrics, as some suggest they damage patient care and encourage “gaming” the system amongst NHS trusts.

NHS England said currently one in five admissions to A&E happen in the final 10 minutes before the four-hour deadline and said hospitals are focusing on meeting targets “rather than what is the best approach for each patient.”

NHS England stresses the measures are still proposals and implementation will be subject to the outcome of the trials.

Powis commented: “As we build an NHS that is fit for the future, now is the right time to look again at the old targets which have such a big influence on how care is delivered, to make sure that they take account of the latest treatments and techniques, and support, not hinder, staff to deliver the kind of responsive, high-quality services that people want to see.”

Healthwatch national director Imelda Redmond said: “What shapes people’s experiences of A&E is often not how long they wait, but the quality of care they receive and how that care is delivered.

“When the four-hour target was introduced in 2004 it helped to significantly reduce the lengthy waits faced by many patients. But 15 years on the NHS faces different challenges, and from what people tell us it is clear that the time is right to look again at this core measure.”

 Image credit - AmandaLewis

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News