Drop in visits to A&E at Bridgewater Community Healthcare last month

General view of an Accident and Emergency Sign at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Fewer patients visited A&E at Bridgewater Community Healthcare last month – but attendances were higher than over the same period last year, figures reveal.

NHS England figures show 3,825 patients visited A&E at Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in February.

That was a drop of 41% on the 6,533 visits recorded during January, but 50% more than the 2,544 patients seen in February 2021.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in February 2020, there were 3,265 visits to A&E at Bridgewater Community Healthcare.

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 1.8 million visits last month.

That was a decrease of 3% compared to January, but 43% more than the 1.3 million seen during February 2021.

At Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust:

In February:

There were 83 booked appointments, up from 21 in January

96% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%