Fewer patients visited A&E at Oxford University Hospitals Trust last month – but attendances were higher than over the same period last year, figures reveal.

NHS England figures show 14,331 patients visited A&E at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in August.

That was a drop of 6 per cent on the 15,208 visits recorded during July, but 16 per cent more than the 12,344 patients seen in August 2020.

Sam Foster, chief nursing officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Compared to August 2019 and August 2020, like other trusts across the country, we have seen an increase in the number of very sick patients coming to our Emergency Departments.

“More recently, we have been caring for more seriously ill patients, across all ages, than we would normally at this time of year. This includes more children and young people attending for emergency treatment with mental health concerns and respiratory virus.

“Thank you to our hardworking staff, across the Trust as well as in our Emergency Departments, who continue to go the extra mile to ensure our patients receive excellent and compassionate care.”

The figures show attendances were above the levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic – in August 2019, there were 13,624 visits to A&E at Oxford University Hospitals Trust.

The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 3 per cent were via minor injury units.

Meanwhile, around 10 per cent were via consultant-led departments with single specialties, such as eye conditions or dental problems.

Across England, A&E departments received 2 million visits last month.

That was a decrease of 6 per cent compared to July, but 19 per cent more than the 1.7 million seen during August 2020.

At Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

In August:

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

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

Separate NHS Digital data reveals that in July:

• The median time to treatment was 73 minutes

• Around 5 per cent of patients left before being treated