A&E Watch Leighton Hospital

Healthwatch Cheshire East and Healthwatch Cheshire West conducted a number of visits to Leighton Hospital A&E between 5 to 9 December 2024.  They spoke to 60 people in total.

Over two thirds of all respondents had spoken to someone else before attending A&E – 8% more than last year. The majority had been advised to attend by their GP Practice, 111 or 999. Last year 111 was the primary referrer compared to GP Practice on this occasion.

Over four in five had spoken to someone for advice or treatment the same day as attending A&E and 13% the day before. This compares to 61% and 29% respectively last year. Other respondents had spoken to someone 2-7 days previously or had accessed numerous services before attending.

Over two thirds of those who had spoken to someone, had been advised to go to A&E and 29% were sent an ambulance. This compares to 66% and 28% respectively last year.

Of respondents who had chosen not to speak to anyone prior to attending A&E, 44% felt the matter was too urgent to access another service and 36% had previously been told to attend A&E by a medical professional. This compares to 61% and 18% respectively last year.

Over half (58%) of the respondents had others drive them to A&E with the most popular other mode of transport being ambulance (28%). This compares to 57% and 30% respectively last year.

Of those that arrived by ambulance, 89% said the ambulance arrived within two hours compared to 95% last year. • Of those who came by ambulance, 94% rated it 5 out of 5 for service (5 being excellent) compared to 79% last year. Nobody rated it less than 3 out of 5. 

Over half (54%) said they hadn’t been kept informed of their wait time whilst in A&E, compared to 70% last year. 

66% felt they had been kept informed of their treatment and care, compared to 58% last year. 

91% agreed that they had been treated with dignity and respect and 83% agreed their privacy had been maintained, the same as last year. 

75% rated the service they had received in A&E a 4 or 5 out of 5, compared to 71% last year.

53% hadn’t used A&E before in the past 12 months, compared to 48% last year. Of those who had, 51% had visited A&E over 3 times in the past 12 months, compared to 26% last year. 

Positive themes were: Staff (majority of comments), being seen quickly and communication. These were similar themes to last year – environment was featured last year. 

Negative themes were: Waiting times, communication, facilities and corridor care. Last year’s themes were similar but with more negative comments on system pressures. 

Attendees were predominantly White British (76%) or Indian (10%) and Heterosexual (98%) with more female than male (63% versus 37%). Age demographics varied across the range with 56% being between 25-64.