Rise in visits to A&E at Mersey Care

More patients visited A&E at Mersey Care last month, with demand rising well above the levels seen over the same period last year.

NHS England figures show 11,075 patients visited A&E at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust in October.

That was a rise of 3% on the 10,716 visits recorded during September, and nearly five times as many as the 1,202 patients seen in October 2020.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in October 2019, there were 2,758 visits to A&E at Mersey Care.

All of last month's attendances were via minor A&E departments – those which treat minor injuries and illnesses such as fractures, cuts and bruises.

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

That was an increase of 2% compared to September, and 36% more than the 1.6 million seen during October 2020.

At Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust:

In October:

There were 2,754 booked appointments, down from 3,261 in September

99% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%