NHS signals end of four-hour A&E target

NHS signals end of four-hour A&E target The four-hour A&E target may be dropped under plans announced by NHS England.

NHS bosses have unveiled plans for an overhaul of the A&E target alongside changes to waiting times for cancer, mental health and planned operations.

It said the targets were becoming outdated. But it comes after many of them have been missed for years.

Instead of aiming to see and treat virtually all A&E patients in four hours, the sickest patients will be prioritised for quick treatment. BBC News

See also:

• NHS to test new rapid care measures for patients with the most urgent mental and physical health needs NHS England
• The King's Fund responds to plans to pilot changes to NHS waiting times targets The King's Fund
• Testing out new targets is a big improvement on the usual directive approach The Nuffield Trust
• A&E four-hour target to be scrapped The Daily Telegraph
• Pilot scheme moves NHS closer to ending four-hour A&E target The Guardian
• NHS waiting times: A&E four-hour target set to be scrapped, plans reveal The Independent
• NHS waiting targets must not be binned to save managers’ blushes The Independent