Drop in visits to A&E at the South Tyneside and Sunderland Trust last month

Fewer patients visited A&E at the South Tyneside and Sunderland Trust last month – but attendances were higher than over the same period last year, figures reveal.

NHS England figures show 19,553 patients visited A&E at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust in April.

That was a drop of 6% on the 20,856 visits recorded during March, but 2% more than the 19,141 patients seen in April 2021.

The figures show attendances were well above the levels seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic – in April 2020, there were 10,480 visits to A&E at sites run by the South Tyneside and Sunderland Trust.

The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 34% were via minor injury units.

Meanwhile, around 7% were via consultant-led departments with single specialties, such as eye conditions or dental problems.

Across England, A&E departments received 2 million visits last month.

That was a decrease of 7% compared to March, but 9% more than the 1.9 million seen during April 2021.

At South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust:

In April:

There were 728 booked appointments, up from 686 in March

Just 73% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%

636 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit – 3% of patients