Top A&E doctors from almost every single Emergency Department in Wales have said they are very worried about the pressure departments will face this winter, according to a survey published today (October 20) by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).

RCEM says this should serve as a stark reminder to government that immediate action is needed to avert disaster.

The survey asked over 150 clinical leads, doctors in charge of A&E departments, across the UK about how they are managing and their views ahead of winter.

The findings were stark.

Of the 11 respondents in Wales, representing almost every ED in the devolved nation, 10 told RCEM they were either 'very' or 'extremely' concerned about the pressure their ED will experience this winter.

Meanwhile, all 11 respondents said pressure was 'high' or 'very high' at the time of the survey. Three quarters said pressure was much higher than the same time last year.

Dr Rob Perry, RCEM Wales Vice President, said: "Emergency Departments across Wales have been struggling throughout the year. We had one of the toughest summers on record, leaving us little room to breathe as it is.

"What this means is that, when winter hits, we will have no spare capacity to stretch. I am deeply concerned about how the next few months will go.

"For our patients, this will mean more long waits, more corridor care and, I fear, more people coming to harm as a result. My colleagues and I will be there, rain or shine, to look after our patients – but there is only so much we can do when we are up against it.

"The new Welsh Government has promised to make Emergency Care one of its key priorities. With winter fast approaching, the time to act is now.

"We need greater bed capacity for patients who need to be admitted, better resources to speed up discharges – and for ED overcrowding to be treated as the serious threat to life that it is."

Dr Ian Higginson, RCEM President, said: "Overcrowding, corridor care and the impending surge of demand from winter are creating a perfect storm for EDs across the UK.

"Colleagues from across the four nations have been crystal clear: we simply are not ready for winter, and can barely manage as we are.

"We have patients lining our departments, many stuck in trolleys for hours upon hours. The sickest and most injured among them can't get into a hospital bed and end up stuck with us, sometimes for days.

"It's a disgraceful state of affairs and I cannot believe it has been allowed to get this bad."

Of the 163 clinical leads across the UK:

  • 91% were very or extremely concerned about winter ED pressures
  • Just 3% said their ED was well prepared for the cold months
  • Two-thirds (67%) described their ED as unsafe