Accident and Emergency Departments

(asked on 18th May 2026) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce accident and emergency department waiting times at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.


Answered by
Karin Smyth Portrait
Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 2nd June 2026

The Government monitors accident and emergency (A&E) waiting time performance against several standards. Performance data is published monthly by NHS England as part of the “A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions” statistics, which are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/

Nationally, the NHS Medium-Term Planning Framework sets out a trajectory to improve urgent and emergency care performance year-on-year, supported by the Model Emergency Department guidance, which outlines core principles for high‑performing emergency departments and improved patient flow.

NHS England’s regional teams provide an additional layer of oversight by scrutinising performance and supporting local systems, alongside targeted national improvement support for the most challenged areas.

At a local level, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has redesigned its clinical operating model and expanded same day emergency care services to improve patient flow and reduce avoidable admissions.

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