This aligns with clinical evidence about patient harm. However, it is at odds with NHS England’s plans to replace the four-hour standard with ‘a basket’ of 10 new metrics, which does not include a six-hour target.

Also this week, we discuss news that more trusts have started publishing data showing thousands of 12-hour waits in their emergency departments, representing a huge difference to the numbers published nationally, for which the clock starts from a later point in the patient’s journey.

Annabelle Collins is joined by James Illman and Matt Discombe.

You can listen to HSJ Health Check on this page, or subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all the other popular podcast platforms.

Send feedback to annabelle.collins@wilmingtonhealthcare.com. 

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