More patients visited A&E at Dorset County Hospital last month – but attendances were lower than in December 2019, figures reveal.
NHS England figures show 5,734 patients visited A&E at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in December.
That was a rise of 5% on the 5,463 visits recorded during November, but 33% lower than the 8,606 patients seen in December the previous year.
The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 38% were via minor injury units.
Across England, A&E departments received 1.5 million visits last month.
That was a decrease of 1% compared to November, and 32% fewer than the 2.2 million seen during December 2019.
The NHS said the drop in attendances nationally is "likely to be a result of the Covid-19 response".
At Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:
In December:
There were nine booked appointments, down from 13 in November
90% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%
24 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit
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