More patients visited A&E at Dorset County Hospital last month – but attendances were lower than in December the year before, figures reveal.

NHS England figures show 5,734 patients visited A&E at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in December.

That was a rise of 5% on the 5,463 visits recorded during November, but 33% lower than the 8,606 patients seen in December the previous year.

The majority of attendances last month were via major A&E departments – those with full resuscitation equipment and 24-hour consultant-led care – while 38% were via minor injury units.

Across England, A&E departments received 1.5 million visits last month.

That was a decrease of 1% compared to November, and 32% fewer than the 2.2 million seen during December 2019.

The NHS said the drop in attendances nationally is "likely to be a result of the Covid-19 response".

At Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:

In December:

There were nine booked appointments, down from 13 in November

90% of arrivals were seen within four hours, against an NHS target of 95%

24 patients waited longer than four hours for treatment following a decision to admit