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 8,700 patients visited A&E at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust in August.

That was a rise of 11% on the 7,818 visits recorded during July, and nearly five times as many as the 1,093 patients seen in August 2020.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in August 2019, there were 1,932 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 million visits last month.

That was a decrease of 6% compared to July, but 19% more than the 1.7 million seen during August 2020.

At Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust:

In August:

There were 2,688 booked appointments, down from 7,171 in July

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