MORE patients visited A&E at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay last month, with demand rising above the levels seen over the same period last year.

NHS England figures show 11,181 patients visited A&E at University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in May.

That was a rise of 13 per cent on the 9,854 visits recorded during April, and 79 per cent more than the 6,253 patients seen in May, 2020.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in May 2019, there were 10,561 visits to A&E at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay.

The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 20 per cent were via minor injury units.

Across England, A&E departments received 2.1 million visits last month.

That was an increase of 11 per cent compared to April, and 65 per cent more than the 1.3 million seen during May 2020 – a reflection of lower-than-usual numbers for that month as more people avoided hospitals during the early days of the pandemic.

At University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust:

In May:

- There were 655 booked appointments, up from none in April

- 81 per cent of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95 per cent.

- 304 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit

- Of those, nine were delayed by more than 12 hours