MORE patients visited A&E at St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals last month, with demand rising above the levels seen over the same period last year.

NHS England figures show 15,724 patients visited A&E at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in September.

That was a rise of four per cent on the 15,096 visits recorded during August, and 19 per cent more than the 13,181 patients seen in September 2020.

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in September 2019, there were 10,233 visits to A&E at St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals.

The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 36 per cent were via minor injury units.

Across England, A&E departments received 2.1 million visits last month.

That was an increase of four per cent compared to August, and 26 per cent more than the 1.7 million seen during September 2020.

At St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust:

In September:

There were 168 booked appointments, down from 207 in August

70 per cent of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%

367 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit

Separate NHS Digital data reveals that in August:

The median time to treatment was 87 minutes

Around eight per cent of patients left before being treated