A&E attendances at Queen Alexandra Hospital drop by nearly a quarter
THE number of patients attending the city’s A&E has dropped by nearly a quarter compared with last year.
In March 2019, Queen Alexandra Hospital’s emergency department had 13,098 attendances - but only saw 10,122 patients in the same month this year – a drop of 23 per cent.
Southampton General Hospital has seen a drop of 33 per cent and across England, attendances at A&Es fell by nearly a third in March with NHS England expecting there to be one million fewer patients this April than last – a drop of around half.
The figures have left health chiefs concerned that the coronavirus pandemic has put people off seeking help for urgent medical problems.
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: ‘While NHS staff have pulled out all the stops to deal with coronavirus they have also worked hard to ensure that patients who don’t have Covid-19 can safely access essential services.
‘So whether you or loved one have the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, are a parent worried about their child or have concerns about conditions such as cancer you should seek help in the way you always would.
‘Ignoring problems can have serious consequences – now or in the future.’
In a Downing Street press conference on Monday, health secretary Matt Hancock expressed alarm at the decline in people going to A&Es.
A new public information campaign, including digital adverts featuring NHS staff, is being rolled out persuade people to contact their GP or the 111 service if they have urgent care needs – or 999 in emergencies – and to attend hospital if they are told they should.
Professor Carrie MacEwen, chair of The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said: ‘We are very concerned that patients may not be accessing the NHS for care because they either don’t want to be a burden or because they are fearful about catching the virus.
‘Everyone should know that the NHS is still open for business and it is vitally important that if people have serious conditions or concerns they seek help. This campaign is an important step in ensuring that people are encouraged to get the care they need when they need it.’