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Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association said:

“These figures are of great concern to the Patients Association, and provide yet more proof that our already over-stretched A&E services are being put under increasingly severe strain. It confirms evidence put forward in recent months that hospitals and A&E departments in particular are struggling to cope with the challenges of an ageing population, increasing admissions and an unprecedented financial squeeze. The causes of such attendance range from the lack of understanding of what constitutes emergency as opposed to urgent care to lack of access to GP services during weekends and evenings.

It is evident that some of the cases that present themselves at the A&E can be better cared for in the community.  The reason why so many people go to A&E who might otherwise go the their GP is that A&E  is available 24 hours day / 7 days week and everyone will be seen and treated.   This is not the case with GPs where availability is restricted by opening hours and waiting times for appointments.   The best way to shift the burden for A&E Dept.’s to GP’s for non-emergency treatment is by making GPs more available.   A&E resources are not best served when they are being used to treat non-emergency patients who should be attending their GP surgery.

There is an immediate need for the community based services to work in a joined up manner to educate the  public about the use of emergency services. Community groups can play a vital role in this. It needs to be recognized that every inappropriate attendance at the A&E would detract health professionals from attending to the genuine and often life-threatening emergencies.”