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Double the A&Es miss waiting target

Double the A&Es miss waiting target
23 September 2013



More A&E departments are missing the four-hour waiting time target, a report released by the regulator has shown. 
Monitor’s quarterly report has revealed that double the number of A&E departments missed the target compared to last year. 
The regulator will be working with NHS England and the Trust Development Authority to support trusts with their plans to counter the winter pressures. 

More A&E departments are missing the four-hour waiting time target, a report released by the regulator has shown. 
Monitor’s quarterly report has revealed that double the number of A&E departments missed the target compared to last year. 
The regulator will be working with NHS England and the Trust Development Authority to support trusts with their plans to counter the winter pressures. 
Jason Dorsett, Monitor’s finance, reporting and risk director said: "Our analysis of returns from foundation trusts shows that patients are still waiting too long at A&Es in a number of foundation trusts.
"Increased demand means more than ever that trusts need better and earlier planning.” 
But the increased pressure over winter has also led to less trusts breaking even or even finishing the year in surplus. 
A significant number of trusts (48) are in deficit, including 19 who had never reported a deficit before, an increase of 12 on last year. 
The overall deficit was £74million. This figure is mostly due to a small number of particularly financially troubled trusts.
During the first quarter of 2013/14, trusts generated £57 million (or 19 per cent) less in cost savings than originally planned. Monitor’s analysis suggests that increased demand for services forced trusts to curtail planned savings on pay and supplies.
Dorsett said: “We expect to see trusts planning now for how the increased demand will impact on their finances, so that they are not storing up trouble for the future."

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