PATIENTS could have to wait longer in A&E as the pressure of more sick people in hospitals in Worcestershire begins to mount with the onset of winter.

A&E staff in Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester and the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch are supposed to see and treat or discharge at least 98 per cent of all patients within four hours of admission.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, has consistently hit this target so far this year.

Staff have managed to see 106,837 out of 107,921 patients (99 per cent) who have come through the doors in both hospitals within the time limit.

But hospital bosses are expecting added seasonal pressure during the winter, historically one of the busiest times for acute hospitals.

Wards have been closed in the past through outbreaks of the highly contagious winter vomiting bug norovirus but this year, there is the added pressure of swine flu on top of seasonal flu.

Mike Stevens, director of finance and business development for the trust, said at a meeting of the trust board: “We have seen continued improvement in performance over the last two months.

“Our position after quarter three and quarter four deteriorates through significant increases in admissions.

“The attempt was to get as much head room as possible in the summer months to allow some deterioration and still hit the end-of-year target. Performance over the last three to four weeks has been particularly difficult.

“A lot of that has been promulgated by the significant increase in the volume of emergency patients who need to be admitted.

“We have seen a much greater increase than we saw last year.

“If our performance for the remainder of this year is the same as last year, we would still just about hit the 98 per cent limit for the year end – but it’s a bit too close for comfort.”

Your Worcester News was the only member of the media at this meeting.