General Hospital Emergency Department

WQ.300/2025

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

BY DEPUTY J. RENOUF OF ST. BRELADE

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 30th JUNE 2025

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 7th JULY 2025

Question

"In relation to the Emergency Department at the General Hospital, for each of the last 10 years, will the Minister state the total number of –

1. attendances at the Emergency Department;
2. self-harm related incidents;
3. patients attending with minor injuries or illness;
4. patients seen within 4 hours;
5. patients having to wait longer than 12 hours;

and will he also state the average waiting time for triage and treatment?" Answer

Accident and Emergency attendances and waiting times are systematically recorded and monitored. The data is analysed monthly.

Emergency Department attendances, and consequently wait times, fluctuate on a seasonal, and daily basis. As a result, during certain times, patients may experience longer waits. In the UK, there are no guidelines setting a maximum waiting time, as this will depend on several factors including how many patients are being seen and treated as well as the severity of their condition, and the availability of beds if the patient needs admission to the hospital. HCJ monitors its performance using the Total time spent in ED' against both a 4- and 12-hour waiting time standard for patients in ED. These are key metrics in place in the UK and therefore allows us to benchmark the performance of our services. HCJ currently benchmarks favourably against these. HCJ is currently achieving 76.9% compared with current NHS performance of 74.7% 4-hour target (% of patients seen, treated and discharged in 4 hours) and similarly regarding the 12- hour post decision to admit standard, HCJ delivered a monthly performance of 1.7% compared to May NHS performance of 7.8%.

All statistics produced by HCJ are dependent on accurate data entry by clinical and administrative staff. Treating patients is prioritised over data entry and therefore HCJ is aware that the data may reflect a longer than actual wait to be triaged or seen, particularly at very busy times.

Please find below, for the period 1st January 2015 to the 31st December 2024, Jersey General Hospital Emergency Department stats.

1. Emergency Department Attendances by Year

On levels of current attendances YTD, we would expect 2025 attendances to surpass 2024.

2. Emergency Department Attendances related to Self-Harm

3. Emergency Department Attendances with a Triage Category of Minor'

4. Emergency Department Attendances seen within 4 Hours of arrival

5. Emergency Department Attendances where total stay was greater than 12 hours

*Two operational changes in 2024 impacted Emergency Department waiting times. The refurbishment of Bartlett ward reduced the available medical beds, whilst the conversion of the Acute Assessment Unit to single-sex accommodation improved patient safety and dignity, but reduced bed allocation flexibility. Both changes, though necessary, contributed to longer ED waits.

6. Emergency Department Median Time to Triage and Seen (treatment). Median values are presented to align with NHS reporting standards.

2023  15  38 2024  17  36