Emergency department attendance at the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) in Bath has surged by 48% over the past decade, with 17,521 visits recorded in June and July last year alone. This dramatic increase has prompted Bath’s MP, Wera Hobhouse, to warn of an ongoing emergency within local hospitals.
The rise in patient numbers comes in the wake of an exceptionally challenging winter, marked by an early flu season and severe cold spells following Christmas, which have significantly increased the demand for hospital care. In some instances, patients have endured record 12-hour waits in A&E.
During a recent visit to the RUH in January, MP Hobhouse praised the hospital staff, stating, “The incredibly hardworking staff at the RUH are doing their utmost under circumstances beyond their control. Our emergency teams are facing a crisis of their own.”
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She emphasized that resolving the crisis requires urgent reform in primary care, highlighting that many patients struggle to secure timely GP appointments. This lack of access often forces patients to turn to A&E for treatment, exacerbating hospital pressures.
Data for Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire reveal a sharp rise in waiting times for GP appointments. Waits exceeding two weeks have surged from 497,427 in 2020 to over one million in 2025, a 101% increase. Additionally, waits longer than 28 days have climbed by 89%, reaching 321,299.
MP Hobhouse criticized the new “Withdraw at 45 Minutes” (W45) policy, designed to transfer patients from ambulance crews to A&E within a maximum of 45 minutes, ideally 15 minutes. RUH staff report difficulties meeting this target amid soaring patient numbers and aging facilities.
The Liberal Democrats advocate for guaranteed GP access within seven days, or within 24 hours for urgent cases. Hobhouse outlined plans to add 8,000 full-time equivalent GPs, which would create 65 million additional appointments annually. “Ensuring timely GP appointments will ease the strain on hospitals like the RUH, saving valuable NHS time and resources,” she stated.
Tracey Thorn, senior matron of the RUH emergency department, praised her team’s dedication: “This winter has been one of the toughest we’ve faced, but our A&E staff have worked tirelessly to meet the overwhelming demand. Their commitment to patients and colleagues is truly commendable.”