Birmingham Hospitals Face Winter Pressure

0:00On March 26th, Birmingham's emergency departments faced tougher times this winter, with patients waiting longer for care. In January, the four-hour treatment target dropped to 59% across University hospitals Birmingham sites, down from the previous month. Average time in A&E climbed to 407 minutes, up from 343. Attendances surged by 5.7% compared to last January, putting extra strain on staff. Outlands and Queen Elizabeth Hospital saw the biggest drops in performance, while good hope and solahole showed slight gains. These pressures hit hard amid full inpatient areas and high demand for ambulances, leading to longer handovers and weights and assessment zones. The trust now sits under the highest national scrutiny and Tier 1 oversight for urgent care. Officials report admitted patients averaged 802 minutes for treatment, up sharply, while not admitted ones hit 252 minutes. The board is meeting today, March 26th, to tackle these issues.

1:02Looking ahead, the trust aims to hit 71% on the four-hour target by March 26th, cut ambulance handovers to 42 minutes, and ease 12 hour weights, signaling a push for steady recovery.