A&E attendance at the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) in Bath has surged by 48% over the past decade, reaching 17,521 visits during June and July last year alone. This dramatic rise has sparked concerns from Bath’s MP, Wera Hobhouse, who describes the situation as an emergency for both patients and healthcare workers.
The hospital confronted a challenging winter period marked by an early flu season and severe cold snaps, contributing to increased demand and prolonged wait times. Some patients have faced record waits of up to 12 hours in A&E, underscoring the strain on emergency services.
Touring the RUH in January, Wera Hobhouse praised the staff’s dedication, stating, “The incredibly hardworking staff at the RUH are doing their best under circumstances completely beyond their control. Our emergency teams are suffering an emergency of their own.”
The MP highlighted a critical root cause: difficulties in accessing primary care. Patients struggling to obtain timely GP appointments often resort to emergency departments for treatment. Data from the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire area shows that waiting times for GP appointments have worsened dramatically. Waits exceeding two weeks have doubled from 497,427 in 2020 to over 1 million in 2025, while waits over 28 days have increased by 89% to 321,299.
Hobhouse has also voiced criticism of the “Withdraw at 45 Minutes” (W45) ambulance handover policy, aimed at transferring patients from ambulances to A&E within 15 to 45 minutes. The RUH reports struggling with the policy due to overwhelming attendance figures and outdated infrastructure.
The Liberal Democrats are campaigning for guaranteed GP access within seven days or within 24 hours for urgent cases. Hobhouse states, “We would boost the number of full-time equivalent GPs by 8,000, increasing GP appointment availability by 65 million. Guaranteeing timely GP care will ease pressure on hospitals like the RUH, saving vital NHS resources.”
Senior Matron at RUH’s emergency department, Tracey Thorn, praised her team’s resilience: “This has been one of the most demanding winters we’ve experienced. Our staff have worked tirelessly to meet the tremendous demand, reflecting their unwavering commitment to patients and colleagues.”