Self-discharge rates at A&E highest in five years

More than four per cent of people who visited Accident and Emergency last year left without seeing a doctor.

Statistics show 1,127 visitors discharged themselves after being checked in at Noble's Hospital - the highest figure in five years.

The Department of Health and Social Care has admitted it's a 'worsening trend' despite the overall number of attendances remaining roughly the same.

It says high rates of patients leaving without being seen are associated with perceptions of excessive waiting times and poor patient experience.

The department says the problem was particularly evident at the start of 2016 when the hospital was suffering 'severe bed capacity problems' which led to waiting times of around eight hours.