Cornwall Emergency Department Wait Times Exceed England’s Average

Recent data indicates that the primary emergency department in Cornwall has achieved superior waiting times compared to the national average for England. The most recent figures from the NHS reveal that in November 2024, 72.1% of patients across all A&E departments in England were either admitted, transferred, or discharged within a four-hour timeframe. For the identical period, the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT) recorded an average of 77.5%. In contrast, the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s average stood at 68.6%. Derriford Hospital reported an average of 66.1%, which represents an improvement compared to its November 2023 data. Robin Jones, the chief operating officer for RCHT, acknowledged these statistics as positive but emphasized that continuous effort is required. “We have been working in collaboration with our colleagues to be slicker and faster at how we can move patients safely out of the hospital into other care providers”, Mr Jones said. He further noted that the data reflects the success of a “whole system approach” that offers alternatives to the Emergency Department, including Minor Injury Units and the Urgent Treatment Centre located at West Cornwall Hospital. “But winter is upon us now. We know we track about two weeks behind the national position from a flu perspective,” he said. He concluded, “We are preparing ourselves for the fact that flu is likely to be arriving in Cornwall, I would suggest early January time from a pressure perspective for the ED.”