Over 3,000 people waited more than four hours to be admitted, transferred, or discharged at Milton Keynes University Hospital’s A&E unit in just one month.
The Labour and Lib Dem coalition on Milton Keynes City Council has today responded to August’s NHS figures which show that 74% of people were seen within four hours, below the 95% target.
NHS Providers’ Miriam Deakin this week said that “demand continues to outstrip capacity” due to a shortage of staff, beds and equipment.
Responding to the latest figures, Councillor Jane Carr, Lib Dem Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: “Sadly it isn’t a surprise that thousands of people are waiting hours to be seen at our local A&E. NHS doctors, nurses and staff work tirelessly to provide the care that our residents need but they can only do so much. Whether it be staggering A&E wait times, lengthy ambulance response times or year-long queues for routine treatment, our NHS is in crisis and the Government simply isn’t doing enough.”
The Labour Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities says the government has 'failed'.
Councillor Emily Darlington, Labour Progressive Alliance Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, added: “The longer the Conservatives are in power, the longer people in Milton Keynes will wait for care. This Government were happy to clap for carers, but when it comes to meaningful support for our NHS heroes they are nowhere to be seen. Over 13 years they have utterly failed to give our brilliant local NHS staff the tools and support they need to provide the care we should all be able to rely on.”
Last week, MKFM spoke to Joe Harrison, CEO of Milton Keynes Hospital, who said waiting times are currently the longest he has 'ever seen'.
As well as A&E times, patients in Milton Keynes have seen 'long waits' for appointments.
He said average waiting times 'really do depend' but currently, the hospital has around 1/10 patients waiting more than a year for an appointment, which he described as "really way too long."
Despite the long waits for many people in the city, 4/10 patients are seen in around 4 months. "The difference is huge," Joe Harrison told MKFM.
According to the BBC, the pandemic, long-standing staff shortages and other factors are the reason for long waiting lists.
READ MORE - MILTON KEYNES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL WAITING TIMES CURRENTLY AT LONGEST CEO HAS 'EVER SEEN'
