HOSPITAL bosses could create a new out-of-hours surgery to help cut waits for treatment in A&E.

GPs responsible for the area’s healthcare are set to agree a recovery action plan to improve A&E performance at Basildon Hospital after it missed a series of Government targets throughout the winter.

An increase in people waiting longer than four hours for treatment has been blamed on a 12 per cent increase in hospital visits over the year and patients staying longer.

The hospital could create a new out-of-hours surgery to deal with less serious patients more quickly.

Tom Abell, chief officer of the Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group, which will meet to sign off the plan today, said: “Although performance has been below standard, the resilience actions we have taken have meant Basildon Hospital has been one of the best performers in Essex.

“Our year to date performance is 94 per cent and we are seeing more people within four hours than ever before.

“However, we recognise more needs to be done so people in Basildon Brentwood are seen quickly in A&E.”

The GP group hopes A&E visits can be cut by a tenth if ambulance staff consider taking patients elsewhere, such as minor injuries units, and frequent visitors are offered more support.

Under the plan, GPs will review the way the NHS advice phoneline dispatches ambulances and access to GP care will be improved, including a new out-of-hours surgery near the hospital.

The hospital will increase staffing and opening hours in its X-ray department and speed up blood tests in a bid to free up space on wards.

A lack of community, social and mental health beds has increased waits at the hospital, as patients waiting to be discharged block beds.

More than a tenth of intermediate community care beds at Thurrock Community Hospital, operated by the North East London NHS Foundation Trust, have been closed over the winter due to staffing issues.

The GP group hopes the hospital will meet the Government target of treating 95 per cent of patients within four hours by the week starting Sunday, March 22.

Mr Abell said: “Our recovery action plan will see us working with the ambulance service to ensure crews are aware of the range of alternative services available for patients.

“We would like to remind people that there isa range of health services other than A&E that can be accessed by calling 111.”