‘TIMEWASTERS’ are still clogging up the A&E at Bradford Royal Infirmary prompting a renewed appeal from hospital bosses for people to stay away unless they are seriously hurt or have a life-threatening illness.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals’ medical director Dr Bryan Gill says some of the culprits who are putting undue pressure on emergency nurses and doctors are those who have “got into the habit” of turning up to be treated.

Dr Gill said increased attendances, which include people with coughs, colds, muscle sprains and minor cuts, means waiting times are getting longer.

He blames those who could get help elsewhere from a pharmacist, GP or from their own first aid box for causing the busy unit, which sees about 400 people daily, to slip below the national average waiting time of four hours.

The UK average of A&E patients being seen within four hours is 86 per cent but so far this month the BRI has been averaging between 80 to 85 per cent, compared with the Government set target of 95 per cent.

Dr Gill said: “Our dedicated doctors and nurses are doing all they can to maintain timely care for patients but when people turn up to our A&E department and don’t need to be there, this is becoming increasingly difficult.

"What they do not realise is that the chances are we are treating someone with a very serious or life-threatening illness or injury just feet away from where they are sitting.

"Accessing the most appropriate services for non-urgent conditions ensures that our A&E is left free to deal with the most vulnerable and sickest patients who really need our help.

"A&E departments need to be able to concentrate on the most seriously ill and injured patients.”

In January this year, the Telegraph & Argus exclusively reported that one in three people attending the A&E at BRI did not need to be there.

Four months on, Dr Gill said that statistic had not changed with about 30 per cent of attendees not being appropriate for A&E.

"Culturally some people have got used to coming to the same place to be treated, they have got into the habit of thinking ‘we’ve been treated there before so we’ll go again’,” he said.

And he added: “We need to persuade these people they can get that help elsewhere and probably quicker."

"It’s not in anyone’s interest to have longer waiting times in A&E.

" We’ve slipped behind the UK average waiting time of 86 per cent. They seem to forget what the other options are but it’s having a serious significant impact.

"It is really a matter of common sense.”

MORE TOP STORIES