A&E department keeps hundreds of people waiting too long at Milton Keynes hospital

And the surge meant the department failed to meet NHS standards because far too many people had to wait more than the recommended four hours.

Figures gathered by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) show only 85.8 per cent of patients presenting at Milton Keynes A&E were admitted, transferred or discharged within the guideline time.

The hospital blames "a busy winter period" and is urging patients to only attend A&E when it is "absolutely necessary".

National NHS guidelines state that at least 95% of patients attending A&E should be dealt with within four hours

In January, Milton Keynes A&E saw 7,598 patients. More than 1,770 of them had a wait exceeding four hours.

RCEM president Dr Katherine Henderson, said: "Our Emergency Departments are still struggling to admit the sickest patients to ward beds...We still need more staff, more beds and more social care."

A spokesman for MK hospital said: "During a busy winter period, hospitals up and down the country have seen increased demand for their services and NHS staff have continued to work hard to provide safe and effective care to all of those who need it.

The figures for January 2020 illustrate that Milton Keynes University Hospital has seen 85.82% of patients in the Emergency Department within four hours. We continue to strive to see every patient as quickly as we can and our performance figures should be considered in the context of performance of hospitals nationally, which indicates that we are performing well compared to other areas."

The spokesman added: "Members of the public can help us to treat patients more quickly by attending our ED only when absolutely necessary. If you are in need of urgent care, it is strongly advised you contact NHS 111 first to discuss your symptoms. This is a free service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The Milton Keynes Urgent Care Centre (UCC) is available for urgent advice and treatment for illness, infections and injuries. It is open 24/7 and provides a doctor and nurse treatment service for urgent problems. The UCC is a local walk-in centre on the hospital site which provides treatment for minor injuries like sprains and strains including on evenings and weekends.

For minor illnesses such as colds, coughs and sore throats, see a local pharmacist who can offer advice and over-the-counter remedies.

Meanwhile the RCEM is urging patients to be mindful of what to do if they are worried about coronavirus.

Dr Henderson said: “While the risk posed by coronavirus remains relatively low, due to the considerable strain on our EDs we ask all patients who think they may have symptoms to call NHS 111 before doing anything else. NHS 111 will provide information on what to do and assess if you need to be seen urgently."