The Director of Health Equality and Inclusion for UHL, gave
a gave verbal presentation update on the Accident and Emergency Department’s
waiting times:
- The update
was requested following a question relating to ambulance hand
over times and the potential impact based on protected
characteristics for patients waiting for ambulances at a previous meeting.
To assess this question, data was examined from October 2025 which
analysed sex, ethnicity, frailty and deprivation status of 1,800 patients
and how these factors affected people waiting for ambulances. The findings
were that there was no significant difference based on a protected
characteristic and that clinical need and acuity of illness being the
driving factor.
- Further
work was done to examine the experiences of patients and how different
groups of people might experience waiting as well as how they might attend
the Emergency Department. UHL Emergency Department (ED) data between 2022
and 2024 was investigated for the research, with wait times and frequency
of attendance being examined. The Director hoped that this extra
information would further add to conversation around the previous item on
winter pressures.
- Between
July 2022 to November 2024 there was an 11% increase in ED attendance.
This was fuelled by a 21% increase in Paediatrics and 7% increase in
adults. While there was a noted increase in children's attendance, adult
attendance outnumbered children by nearly a factor of 3.
- There
was an overall goal of simplifying the data so interventions can be had
with specific groups and populations as well as what service changes
need to be made to support this. There are different needs for different
population groups with a clear need around deprivations status and age.
The data showed that the most prominent groups in the Emergency Department
were older patients of a white ethnicity, Black and Asian individuals
and deprived groups. Black and Asian individual as well as deprived
groups were all overrepresented in the Emergency Department, but their
average patient acuity was lower. Older patients who are of a white
ethnicity tend to wait longer but this was due to the complexity of their
needs.
- Emergency
Department usage was becoming less concentrated amongst traditional high
use groups. A broader, more complex patient mix was emerging across the
population.
- The
data was collated on to maps, so the areas of LLR with particularly high
Emergency department attendance can be identified. This was with the aim
of passing this information on to primary care and community partners, so
they can engage with the identified communities and develop interventions.
Thus, driving down Emergency Department attendance in the future.
In response to Members comments:
- The utility of the slides
in relation to the previous topic was echoed by members and that it was
stated that it would have been useful to see the slides before the
meeting. It was commented how factors such as vaccinations and GP access
in deprived and rural communities, ultimately accumulates in the Emergency
department
- The GP to patient ratio in
the City and its subsequent impacts on the Emergency Department was
notably raised by members. It was stated that until the issue of the high
GP to patient ratio is tackled, then it will continue to contribute to the
high Emergency Department numbers. The fact that high levels of complex
health cases in the City, were monopolising GP’s resources was also
highlighted. In response, the Chief Medical Officer for the ICB
acknowledged that the lower levels of GPs in the City was an issue which
they were working to improve. The ICB was also offering extra support and
funding to GP practices in the City to help tackle the health inequality
issues.
- The topic of longer wait
times for older white patients was commented on and further details were
requested about what the underlying causes of this difference were. It was
suggested by members that it would perhaps be better if the data focused
on more subdivided sections such as the City and County separately to
provide more accurate information on the factors that were assessed. In
answer to this, it was explained that the wait times for elderly white
patients was due the complexity of their needs and not how sick they were.
Agreed:
1. The
presentation was noted.