A&Es not being overwhelmed by ‘low acuity’ patients, NHSE review finds

An NHS England review has found the proportion of ‘low acuity’ patients attending emergency departments is far smaller than expected.

During a trial of new acuity measures at 17 accident and emergency sites, NHSE found the proportion of patients with low acuity was just 4 per cent, when it had expected the figure to be between 20 and 40 per cent.

Low acuity cases are those which could often be seen by less specialist services, such as urgent treatment centres.

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Source: HSJ, 13 May 2024