PATIENTS attending A&E with no obvious medical condition cost Great Western Hospitals Trust nearly a million pounds last year, figures reveal.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said many people anxious about their health have “no alternative” but to turn to A&E for treatment, and added that pressures on emergency departments should not fall on the public.

NHS Digital data shows roughly 7,425 admissions had a primary diagnosis of “nothing abnormal detected” at GWH NHS Foundation Trust in 2019-20.

This cost the trust £905,900 over the period and accounted for 7 per cent of all emergency activity.

The NHS says A&E is for serious and life-threatening emergencies, with patients urged to call 111 over other urgent illnesses.

A GWH spokeswoman said: “Every year, we see around 90,000 patients who attend the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre. Many of these patients need further care on a ward but some are treated and discharged the same day.

“We know that most of the patients we see have come to the right place, and do require urgent or emergency care, however we do sometimes see patients who could have been treated in another healthcare setting such as by a GP or pharmacist. 

“We would encourage anybody who is unsure to contact NHS 111 in the first instance. NHS 111 advisers are specially trained to direct a patient to the most appropriate healthcare provider for their needs.”

Across all trusts in England which provided figures, £178 million was spent on 1.1 million non-urgent A&E attendances in 2019-20.

At GWH Trust, respiratory conditions were the most common issues in 2019-20 – for which a diagnosis was listed – accounting for 9,850 emergency episodes.

But vice president of the RCEM, Dr Adrian Boyle warned there are many reasons why someone could attend an emergency department and then be discharged with no serious diagnosis made.

“They may attend because there is simply no alternative, or they are directed there by an external agency”, he said.

Dr Boyle added: “But crucially patients won’t know the severity of their condition without clinical expertise or examination. Sometimes cases do show no abnormality and at those times we will discharge the patients appropriately.

“However, there are times when we do discover something serious and their attendance may save their life as we are able to swiftly provide appropriate treatment.”

He said concern over pressures on A&E departments should not be shouldered by the public, adding that an “adequately staffed and funded” health service can meet patient and community demand.