Royal London Hospital blames Elizabeth line for patient influx
The Royal London believes a recent surge in patient numbers is due to the Elizabeth line opening. Royal London Hospital's A&E saw a surge in patient numbers in 2109, with 75% of patients within four hours compared to 58% in 2023. This figure dropped to 77% as of August 2023, according to a meeting with Tower Hamlets Council's health and adults scrutiny sub-committee. The frequency of trains each hour between Paddington and Whitechapel was increased from 22 to 24, with 16 trains an hour running off-peak. Despite this increase, the Royal London hospital's chief operating officer, Kathriona Davison, stated that the surge in patients may have been caused by the Elizabeth line.
Publicado : Hace 2 años por By Ruby Gregory en Health
In 2109, its A&E saw 75% of patients within four hours compared with 58% so far in 2023.
That dropped to 77% as of August 2023, it was revealed during a meeting with Tower Hamlets Council's health and adults scrutiny sub-committee on Tuesday.
In May, it celebrated its first anniversary with the introduction of a full peak timetable. The frequency of trains each hour between Paddington and Whitechapel was upped from 22 to 24, with 16 trains an hour running off-peak with the line's overall capacity increasing by about 10%.
When the meeting opened up for questions, Labour councillor Amina Ali asked Royal London staff whether they were in contact with nearby east London hospitals about the "sudden surge" in patients.
Kathriona Davison, chief operating officer at the Royal London, said Homerton, Newham and Whipps Cross hospitals had not seen a reduction in their activity but that "it just happens to come to us as a result of the Elizabeth line and that's the indication from the data that we have at the moment".
Ms Davison explained: "It's very difficult to stop people coming to us by the Elizabeth line," adding that the number of patients they were seeing also probably reflected how they perceived the hospital's UTC and A&E departments.
"We are working on it and it's part of the plans on how we address some of those increased demands."
Temas: Europe, United Kingdom