Patients waiting in A&E

The proportion of A&E patients waiting in excess of 12 hours during the new year period more than doubled, according to new statistics.

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Figures released yesterday show that, during the week ending Sunday, January 4, some 6.8 per cent of patients spent more than 12 hours in an emergency department compared to 3.2 per cent the previous week.

The proportion of patients seen and admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours dropped to 62.7 per cent compared to 68.8 per cent the previous week.