Pressure on London’s accident and emergency (A&E) departments will grow to “unprecedented levels” should the weather deteriorate this winter, according to a new London Assembly report.

The report, Risks to London A&E services this winter, revealed the capital’s A&E attendance figures have rocketed to 3.6m a year, up from 2.5m a decade ago.

Already this year waiting times have reached levels not normally seen until December, with London was the worst performing region in England between July and September.

The reasons for this, according to the report, include young people and migrants being less likely to be registered with a GP; older people being more likely to end up in A&E rather than being treated at home; and GPs no longer being permitted to admit patients directly on to a ward.

St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs south-west London's major trauma centre at St George's Hospital, Tooting, hit its target 25 times out of the 52 week calendar.

It also saw 94.5 per cent of its patients within the standard four-hour waiting time.

In the past the Government has provided additional funding to support A&E departments through winter but this year just 10 trusts will receive a share of the allocated £55m.

A St George’s Healthcare spokesman said: “Winter is a very busy time for the trust.

“We have plans in place to help us cope with the increased activity including recruiting more staff and having seasonal escalation wards that are only opened in very busy periods.”

The report also revealed: 

  • Croydon Health Services NHS Trust missed the four-hour target 46 weeks out of 52 last year and dealth with 89 per cent of patient within four hours
  • Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust missed the target 19 weeks out of 52, and hit the four hour target for 95 per cent of patients

​Read it for yourself: 12_11_13_accident.pdf