Cornwall ED wait times better than England average

The Royal Cornwall Hospital Emergency Department saw eight out of ten patients within four hours during November

Waiting times at Cornwall's main hospital emergency department are better than England's average, new figures show.

According to the latest statistics from the NHS, across England 72.1% of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours across all A&E departments in November 2024.

Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust (RCHT) had an average of 77.5% for the same time period, while Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust had an average of 68.6%.

Derriford Hospital had an average of 66.1%, an increase on the figure for November 2023.

RCHT Chief Operating Officer Robin Jones said a flu spike is expected in early January

RCHT chief operating officer, Robin Jones, said the figures were welcome but there was always more to do.

"We have been working in collaboration with our colleagues to be slicker and faster at how we can move patients safely out of the hospital into other care providers", Mr Jones said.

He added the figures were testament to a "whole system approach" providing alternatives to ED, such as Minor Injury Units and the Urgent Treatment Centre at West Cornwall Hospital.

"But winter is upon us now. We know we track about two weeks behind the national position from a flu perspective," he said.

"We are preparing ourselves for the fact that flu is likely to be arriving in Cornwall, I would suggest early January time from a pressure perspective for the ED."