British Red Cross Report on A&E Services

Accident and Emergency departments have been making the headlines in recent months, with pictures of ambulances queuing outside hospitals and reports of patients waiting up to eleven hours to be seen – far beyond the four-hour target.

High intensity use costs the NHS £2.5bn per year and a report from the British Red Cross set out to examine what is driving that cost and the behaviour behind it.

The study combined literature reviews, data analysis and patient experience work. It showed a clear link between high intensity use and wider inequalities such as issues of homelessness, unemployment and mental health conditions.

The report offers a series of recommendations for how these inequalities can be addressed and highlights missed opportunities.

The full report on high intensity use of Accident and Emergency Services can be accessed here.