Scotland records second-worst week for long A&E waits

Scotland has recorded the second-worst week for long A&E waits on record, figures show.

Some 12,074 patients waited more than the four-hour target at emergency departments in the week ending October 4.

The figure means only 58.9% of patients were seen within this timeframe.

The week ending December 18, 2022 remains the worst week on record with 12,163 people waiting more than four hours at A&E.

That week only 55.2% of people were admitted, discharged, or transferred within four hours.

The latest weekly figures show 2,122 (7.2%) patients waited more than 12 hours at emergency departments, while 4,814 (16.4%) waited more than eight hours.

The Scottish Tories said the SNP was “presiding over horrendous waiting times even before winter has begun to bite”.

Health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “Their flimsy winter plan last week exposed another SNP health secretary who does not have a clue how to fix the permanent crisis in A&E.

“We know these excessive waits lead to needless deaths in A&E departments and it is scandalous that over 2,000 patients are routinely waiting more than half a day to be seen on the SNP’s watch.

“If (the Health Secretary) Angela Constance fails to get a grip of this situation urgently, then frontline care faces a devastating winter due to the nationalists’ mismanagement.

“For the sake of patients and hardworking staff, the SNP need to come up with a real plan to avoid catastrophic waiting times in the coming weeks and months in Scotland’s health service.”

Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman, criticised First Minister John Swinney’s claim that the NHS was “turning a corner”, saying: “The reality is that record numbers of patients are waiting more than four hours to be seen and either admitted, discharged or transferred.

“A rising number of people are choosing to go private as waits in our health service are far too long.

“We need urgent action to tackle waiting times – not more gimmicks from SNP ministers.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Adam Harley MSP said: “These are some of the worst waiting times at A&E in a single week.

“The situation is desperate: patients are being treated in corridors or left in waiting rooms for hours on end.

“The crisis in social care is at the heart of these pressures, but the SNP have failed to tackle it.

“We need to get people the care packages they need, letting them leave hospital on time and freeing up bed space for new patients.”

Ms Constance said: “Today’s figures on A&E performance show why continued focus on hospital flow and winter planning is vitally important as we head into the colder months.

“The status quo cannot continue. Reducing avoidable admissions, speeding up discharge and strengthening community care must be immediate priorities for government, health boards and local authorities.”

The Health Secretary said that while pressure facing emergency departments was “not unique” to Scotland, she said she was “determined to see improvements in performance”.

She went on: “That’s why one of the first actions of this Government was to publish a plan for hospital flow which includes actions to expand Hospital at Home services and implementing the Discharge Without Delay approach in all health boards by this winter.

“We will also launch a new public awareness campaign to help people access the right care in the right place and are making targeted investments to reduce planned care waiting lists.

“We continue to ask people to take an active role in maintaining their health and wellbeing and to use services appropriately, only calling 999 in emergency situations where they feel they have to go to A&E and dialling 111 for non-emergencies.

“This can support our dedicated health and social care staff, who are the cornerstone of our winter response every year and show great resilience and determination all year round.”