CLOSE to 300 patients waited more than 12 hours to be dealt with in accident and emergency departments in Gwent hospitals during September.

The figure - 291, with one patient also waiting longer than 12 hours in a minor injury unit - is the highest for long waits in such departments in the area for almost 18 months.

The figure reflects the impact of surges in the amount of patients attending A&E, in particular at the Royal Gwent, and especially at the beginning of last month.

Such was the demand - which created the knock-on effect of a need for more beds - that Aneurin Bevan University Health Board had to suspend routine orthopaedic surgery for several days at the beginning of September, because medical patients needed beds normally earmarked for surgical patients.

The health board also issued requests for people with minor injuries to seek assistance at minor injuries units at other hospitals, including Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach, and Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan in Ebbw Vale, or face very long waits while emergency department resources were focused on the more serious and complex patients.

Overall, A&E at the Royal Gwent accounted for 231 of the September’s waits of more than 12 hours, with the Gwent-wide figure of 292 the highest since the 369 recorded in April 2013.

September proved more difficult for A&E departments in north Wales (more than 600 cases) and at Morriston Hospital in Swansea and Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital (362 ).

Eliminating A&E waits of more than 12 hours is a priority of the Welsh Government and pressure has been brought to bear on health boards to deal with the issue, but demand appears currently to be a key obstacle.

Having invested in staff and facilities to more speedily identify and deal with older, more complex patients coming through A&E, health bosses in Gwent have identified the layout of department at the Royal Gwent as a barrier to improving waiting times and are proposing a revamp likely to cost upwards of £1.5 million.

People are also being urged to think twice about whether A&E is the most appropriate place to seek help for an illness or injury, and to consider alternatives.