What patients told us about why they "walk in" to A&E Departments in Worcestershire
Download (PDF 606.95 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Worcestershire carried out a survey to understand why patients ‘walk in’ to two Accident and Emergency Departments in Worcestershire. 323 people completed the survey, 292 face-to-face and 31 online.
The majority (70%) of respondents reported that they had contacted another health service about their condition before going to A&E. People were most likely to have contacted their GP practice, the NHS 111 service, and the Minor Injuries Unit before going to A&E.
92% of reported that they were tole to go to A&E by the health service they had contacted. Just over half (51%) of those who were told by their GP practice to go to A&E told Healthwatch that the surgery had made an arrangement with A&E before they sent them.
52% of those who had contacted NHS 111 said either a time slot had been booked for them or that A&E has been alerted prior to their arrival. Of those with a timed appointment, 56% were seen within 15 minutes of their appointment time. However, appointments were not always booked for patients or alerted by NHS 111, an some experienced difficulties getting through and lengthy waits for a call back.
A number of recommendations were made in the report.