National Emergency Access Targets - effectiveness

The Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research has published a briefing paper which examines NEAT targets and argues against the use of this financially incentivised process measure on its own. National Emergency Access Target: aiming for the target but what about the goal?, by Katherine Silk, points to a 65% rise in Emergency Department presentations between 2001 and 2011, which led inevitably to increased waiting times, overcrowding and a generally higher risk for patients. 

The paper cites evidence that although NEAT attainment has improved, "hospitals broadly have been unable to achieve the targets particularly for admitted patients, the intended beneficiaries of the policy. NEAT has resulted in increases in hospital admissions ... the NEAT policy at present cannot be considered a complete success."