Accident and emergency waiting times ‘are on the rise’

More people are facing long waits in NHS accident and emergency (A&E) departments than was the case in previous years, according to a new report.

Analysis carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has revealed that one-third of the 46,000 patients who received care in A&E departments at the beginning of 2012 waited more than 30 minutes before they saw a doctor or nurse.

This was up from 29 percent in 2008 and 24 percent in 2004, while one-third of patients also said they spent more than four hours in A&E.

Despite this, the majority of patients still have confidence and trust in NHS A&E staff, more than half of those polled said they were not informed of how long it would take for them to be examined.

David Behan, chief executive of the CQC, said: "People should be seen, diagnosed, treated and admitted or discharged as quickly as possible and this is an issue that trusts need to urgently tackle."

Last month, the regulator raised concerns that the current financial pressure on UK health and care services will have a negative impact on the standard of service received by patients.