The average total time spent in the Emergency Department of the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) fell by almost one hour according to statistics released by the Department of Health.

In total, in June 2020, 2,819 people attended the Emergency Department at SWAH, falling from 3,334 in June 2019. In April and May 2020 the total attendances at SWAH’s Emergency Department were 1,850 and 2,752 respectively.

In June of this year the median time spent was five hours and 23 minutes compared to six hours and 20 minutes in 2019, while 95 per cent of patients were admitted to hospital within 12 hours in June 2020 a decrease from 21 hours and 15 minutes in 2019.

The waiting time from arrival to triage in SWAH was steady at nine minutes from April to June 2020, while 95 per cent of patients were seen within 31 minutes in April and 32 minutes in May and June.

The time from triage to the start of treatment also fell in June to 23 minutes from 35 minutes in 2019 with 95 per cent being seen in under three hours.

Out of those admitted to hospital, in April 2020, the average time spent in the Emergency Department was four hours and 51 minutes and this rose to five hours and 23 minutes in June.

95 per cent of patients spent an average eight hours and 10 minutes in the Emergency Department in April, rising to 11 hours and 57 minutes in June.

SWAH also achieved its target of commencing treatment of patients within two hours of them being triaged from April to June.

Over the three months, over 90 per cent of patients were treated within two hours after being triaged, compared to 80.7 per cent in June 2019 and surpassing the 80 per cent target.

The report shows that 68.6 per cent of patients were treated and discharged or admitted from the Emergency Department within four hours of their arrival, six per cent better than June 2019. However this fell compared to April and May of 2020 which saw over 71 per cent of patients treated and discharged or admitted.

While the number of patients treated and discharged or admitted within 12 hours of arrival fell from 221 in 2019 to 51 in June 2020. In April it was nine while in May it rose to 23.

The total time spent in the Emergency Department of SWAH for those discharged home dropped from two hours and 55 minutes in June 2019 to two hours and 16 minutes in 2020, while 95 per cent of attendances were discharged within six hours and 26 minutes of their arrival in June 2020 compared to eight hours and 40 minutes in June 2019.