THIRTEEN patients waited longer than 24 hours at Withybush General Hospital’s Accident and Emergency department between July 2012 and June 2013, figures have revealed.

The numbers for Withybush were significantly lower than the other hospitals under Hywel Dda Health Board – some 93 patients waited longer than 24 hours at Glangwili General Hospital and the numbers across the health board totalled 359 patients.

The figures were obtained as part of a Freedom of Information request to all health boards across Wales by Welsh Conservatives.

Shadow minister for health Darren Millar AM said:“It is difficult to imagine anyone spending more than 24 hours in A and E, let alone the elderly and vulnerable.

“Waits of just a few hours will be distressing and uncomfortable for many. Spending more than a day waiting to be treated or discharged is unthinkable.”

A Hywel Dda Health Board spokesman said: “Meeting performance targets is a priority for the health board and in June 2013, the health board successfully met the four hour emergency care target and saw 96.2% of the 11,522 people attending within four hours across all its emergency care facilities.

“Credit must be given to the hard work of all staff in caring for our patients and achieving this target.

"Whilst it is regrettable that any patient experiences a long wait, the pressures faced by emergency care facilities across the UK, particularly in early 2013, have been widely reported.

"Clinically-led work to explore the unscheduled care services needed in primary care and at Prince Philip Hospital is currently being undertaken and this will inform service delivery models at other sites within the health board.

“This work will help develop services in the community and within hospitals to meet increasing demands.

“Members of the public can also do their part and choose well to ensure they are using the right service for their needs.

“Evidence shows a significant number of people still go to hospital emergency departments or dial 999 when there are other services more convenient and suitable for their needs."