HEALTH bosses in Bolton fear they will not meet A&E targets for next year.

Urgent care departments around the country are expected to be able to see, treat and either discharge or admit 95 per cent of patients within four hours.

However, chiefs at Royal Bolton Hospital are predicting that some patients may face have to wait longer.

At the Thursday meeting of the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust governing board, chief operating officer Andy Ennis said delays were a result of increase of demand in winter, workforce and bed blocking.

He said: "We have to be very clear now on what we can deliver.

"The decision to admit someone and length of stay have to be looked at if we are to achieve 90 per cent by September and 95 per cent by March.

"There is heavy investment in community services but at the hospital there's the incentive to transfer someone to another bed but not enough patients are being sent home. It is very clear we have got to get more people supported in their home.

"The best place for most patients is in their own home where they can mobilise better in their own environment."

Mr Ennis reported that the A&E treated 185 patents with minor cases last month and if fully staffed they could see them an, and have them home, within the four hour limit.

However, at busy times staff were relocated from treating minor ailments to major trauma, resulting in delays for minor care.

While 32 extra beds are to be provided for patients this winter, Mr Ennis said the emphasis was on getting people home with the support of Bolton Council and Bolton NHS Clinical Commissioning Group.

All parties have been involved in creating a new model of urgent care under the Bolton Locality Plan, which would see more specialists working in the community to support GPs and care homes.

The trust predicts that the best case scenario would see it smash the September target, with more than 97 per cent of patients seen within four hours, and more than 94 per cent by March next year.

However, it predicts at current rates it will reach the 90 per cent target in but this would not improve by March.

Mr Ennis added: "The challenge of the care economy is not just a hospital problem.

"The local plan recognises we are short of GPs and is recruiting 20 pharmacist, as well as mental health staff and physiotherapists – an alternative workforce to support the GPS."