RUH apologises for failing A&E and cancer patients

THE  Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust (RUH) has issued an apology after latest figures revealed that the hospital has failed to meet NHS targets for A&E and cancer treatment.

According to figures for April, only 70.7% of A&E patients were treated or admitted within four hours of arrival – failing to meet the target of 95% and ranking the trust 120 out of the 129 trusts in England.

In March, the trust failed to meet the target of 85% of patients starting cancer treatment within 62 days of urgent GP referral, with only 75.2% of RUH patients starting treatment on time.

In response, the RUH has said that work is being done to improve, with figures, not yet published, indicating that the trust met the 85% target for cancer treatment in May.

RUH Trust chief operating officer, Rebecca Carlton, told Melksham News, “We are very sorry whenever patients experience delays of any kind. Like all acute NHS Trusts across the country, the RUH is a busy hospital all year round, and in April and particularly over the Easter period, we experienced periods of sustained pressure with high numbers of patients requiring admission. 

“We have put in place active programmes that have seen improvements in both our four-hour A&E and 62-day cancer treatment figures. Our 62-day cancer performance has already improved to meet the 85 per cent target in May.

“We continue to work with our partners in primary, social and community care and the ambulance service to improve services and ensure we are in the best position to deliver the high standards of care expected at the RUH.”

Figures were obtained from the BBC News website: www.bbc.co.uk/ news/health-41483322