Bristol Royal Infirmary struggling

The hospital’s previous average was around 92 to 93 per cent.

During the week ending December 14, the A&E had 2,483 emergency admissions of which only 83 per cent were seen and treated within four hours.  The Government target is 95 per cent, which the BRI had been nearly achieving throughout the summer and autumn months.

 Winter pressures have not yet caused a dip in Southmead’s A&E performance, which achieved 82.8 per cent.

This is consistent with what the department has been recording throughout the year – the unit has been falling below the Government’s target since opening in May.

Last month, it was revealed more than a quarter of the Brunel building’s beds were being clogged up by patients who were well enough to leave hospital but could not be discharged.

These patients were forced to remain in hospital because they still needed care which was not being offered in the community.

 Pressures at England’s A&E hit record levels last week, with more than 10 hospital trusts only achieving between 65 to 75 per cent of their patients being seen within four hours.

And things are set to get worse as a number of health services close down for Christmas and New Year – putting more strain on the already struggling A&Es.

 A spokesman for University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said “Emergency departments nationally are currently under increased pressure due to a variety of factors, and of course UH Bristol is no exception.

“Nationally performance dropped below 90 per cent and this dip was replicated in Bristol. However, we are not complacent.

“We have developed extensive resilience plans and are working closely with acute, social and community care partners locally and regionally, to ensure patients remain well cared-for.”

A spokeswoman for North Bristol Trust, which runs Southmead, said: “As with A&E departments across the country our emergency department has been under pressure due to the number of patients coming through the doors.

 “We have an escalation process internally to deal with particularly busy spells.

“The trust is working with all our partners locally to put in place actions to help us meet demand.

“We ask people to remember that A&E is for emergencies and to consider whether it is the most appropriate service to meet their needs.”

Southmead is funding additional beds at the hospital and working with partners in the community to help arrange support for patients who are well enough to leave hospital but may need additional care.

Health chiefs hope these measures will help alleviate pressures on its A&E over Christmas and into the New Year.