Some patients experiencing ‘unacceptable waits’ in A&E, says Gray

Patients in A&E continue to face “unacceptable waits” as the system deals with “considerable demand”, Scotland’s Health Secretary has said.

Figures released by Public Health Scotland showed a slight improvement in emergency waiting times in the week up to January 12, with the proportion of patients being seen within four hours rising to 62.4% from 58.6% the previous week.

The most recent figures are the first week the number seen within four hours has been above 60% since early December.

The Scottish Government aims for patients to be seen and subsequently, admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in 95% of cases.

Responding to the figures, Neil Gray said: “Our A&E departments are still facing considerable demand – I thank all NHS staff for their exceptional efforts over this challenging period as we deal with winter pressures and the prevalence of flu.

“Our teams are working hard to ensure patients are seen as quickly as possible, but we know some people are facing unacceptable waits and we are determined to drive improvements.

“Last night the First Minister and I held a further meeting with health boards, the Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS24 and Public Health Scotland to assess system pressures and discuss ongoing work to minimise delays.

“I am grateful to the public who are continuing to do their part in observing the advice on the best way to access services – it is vital people only attend A&E in a genuine emergency. If this is not the case, there are online tools at NHS Inform, and NHS 24 can be contacted on 111. For life-threatening emergencies always call 999.”

Elsewhere, the number of people waiting more than 12 hours at A&E fell from 2,179 in the previous week – about 9.2% of attendances – to 1,959, equivalent to 8.8%.

While 15.9% – 3,544 patients – waited more than eight hours, compared to 18.4%, or 4,360 people, the previous week.

Scottish Tory health spokesman, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, said emergency departments were “teetering on the brink of collapse after 18 years of SNP mismanagement”.

He added: “Even as the flu epidemic eases slightly and the number of patients attending A&E mercifully drops, the SNP are missing their four-hour target by a country mile and, worse still, thousands of Scots are waiting more than eight or 12 hours to be seen.

“These intolerable delays lead to avoidable loss of life – and, according to expert modelling, 49 people will have died needlessly in this week alone.

“This all stems from the nationalists’ dire workforce planning and woefully inadequate NHS winter plan. Patients and dedicated NHS staff have been let down by a succession of hapless SNP health secretaries, of which Neil Gray is just the latest, and their inability to get on top of a crisis they created.

“Ministers must ensure more resources get to the NHS frontline, instead of being squandered on bureaucracy.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “The First Minister may have sidelined Neil Gray but the thousands of patients still waiting more than eight hours to be seen in A&E are yet to see any difference in Full-on John’s NHS.

“The only thing that’s full-on is chaos – the SNP must act now to reduce delayed discharge and invest in primary care so hospitals can function again.

“Our NHS needs a change of direction and Scottish Labour is ready to deliver it.”