24-hour waits in Blackpool hospital A&E are 100 TIMES more likely than five years ago

The number of elderly patients waiting over 24-hours at A&E before being admitted to hospitals in Blackpool is 100-times greater than five years ago.

That’s according to Freedom of Information requests to hospital trusts by the Liberal Democrats. A total of 4,674 over-65s had to wait over 24-hours in Blackpool Teaching Hospitals A&E before being admitted to hospital in 2023.

That’s up from just 42 in 2019. It means the number of elderly patients waiting over a day in A&E is 111-times greater now than it was five years ago.

READ MORE:

• Eastenders' Cheryl 'not surprised' by A&E wait times after Blackpool Hospital hell

• Beloved mum died in hospital 'after nurses read wrong patient's DNR note', family say

The situation is similar for non-elderly patients too. A total of 6,851 patients of all ages had to wait over 24-hours in A&E in 2023 at the trust - that’s 82-times higher than the 84 patients in 2019.

In a statement, a hospital spokesperson told LancsLive: "Blackpool Teaching Hospitals has had to deal with a significant increase in demand for healthcare. There was an 11% increase in attendances at Blackpool Victoria Hospital A&E over the peak winter period between December and March compared with last year.

"This was on top of industrial action, high bed occupancy and the usual pressure caused by seasonal illnesses like flu."

Deputy Chief Executive Steve Christian said: "I want to thank all my colleagues at Blackpool for their continued hard work and dedication caring for our patients during what has been another very challenging winter. We can all play a part in keeping A&E moving by always making sure you are going to the most appropriate place for medical care.

"This could be a local pharmacy, NHS 111 or online, your GP about out-of-hours and weekend appointments, an urgent treatment centre or calling the Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 953 0110. In a life or limb emergency always call 999.You can find plenty more information about the help and care available on our website and social media channels, and the national NHS website."

The situation in Blackpool is worse than most trusts responding to the FOI, where the numbers have increased 10-fold over the last five years. A total of 15,440 patients waited over 24-hours in A&E and that rose to 131,928 in 2022, and then to 153,356 in 2023.

Over-65s are far more likely to have to wait over 24-hours to be admitted than younger patients.

Just over two-thirds (67%) of patients who waited over a day to be admitted were over the age of 65.

East Kent Hospitals University Trust had the highest number of patients waiting over a day to be admitted last year, out of the trusts to respond to the FOI - 14,394.

That’s followed by Liverpool University Hospitals Trust with 13,283, and University Hospitals Birmingham with 8,665.

You can find out the data for your local trust by searching this table:

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: "It is appalling that so many elderly and vulnerable people are being forced to put up with these terrifying waits, as our health service teeters on the brink. Behind each one of these figures is a story of someone waiting in pain, worried sick about getting the care they need.

"These numbers expose the reckless damage done by this Conservative government’s neglect of the NHS and care. We desperately need more hospital beds and a long-term solution to the social care crisis, to end these devastating A&E delays."

An NHS spokesperson said: "Last year NHS staff contended with significant demand – 393,000 more A&E attendances and 217,000 more emergency admissions compared to 2022 – on top of unprecedented industrial action, high bed occupancy and the usual pressure caused by seasonal illness including Covid and flu.

"Despite these pressures, our urgent and emergency care recovery plan has delivered significant progress for patients – alongside increasing capacity including extra beds and ambulances, the NHS has expanded the use of innovative measures like same-day emergency care to help avoid overnight admissions from A&E, and treating people closer to home to get them the care they need without a trip to hospital, through expanded falls services, community response services and our world-leading virtual ward programme."