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 11,410 patients visited A&E at University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in March.

That was a rise of 20 per cent on the 9,469 visits recorded during February, and 34 per cent more than the 8,545 patients seen in March 2021.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic – in March 2020, there were 7,407 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 23 per cent were via minor injury units.

Across England, A&E departments received 2.2 million visits last month.

That was an increase of 19 per cent compared to February, and 29 per cent more than the 1.7 million seen during March 2021.

At University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust:

In March:

  • There were 655 booked appointments, up from 290 in February
  • 71 per cent of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95 per cent
  • 964 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit – eight per cent of patients
  • Of those, 389 were delayed by more than 12 hours