A&E waiting times at worst level since April as Scottish Government criticised

Waiting times at Scotland’s emergency departments are at the worst levels since April, new figures have shown.

Statistics published by Public Health Scotland show 62.7% of people were seen within four hours in the week to October 6 – a sharp drop from 65.3% the previous week and the lowest since the week of April 7.

A Scottish Government target aims to ensure 95% of attendances are seen within four hours.

In the same week, 1,649 people waited longer than 12 hours in A&E – up from 1,271 the week before.

Some 3,536 people waited more than eight hours, compared to 3,079 the previous week.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Although we have the best-performing core A&E departments in the UK, performance is not good enough, and we are working closely with NHS Boards to help support a reduction in long waits.

“Services continue to face sustained pressure and this is not unique to Scotland – with similar challenges being felt right across the UK.

“Through our winter plan, a record number of NHS 24 call handlers will be available this year to direct people to the most appropriate care, helping reduce unnecessary A&E attendances.

“We are also working to address delayed discharge in hospitals with an increased focus on effective discharge planning.

“This year’s Scottish Budget provides more than £19.5 billion for health and social care and an extra £500 million for frontline boards.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the figures must act as a “wake-up call” for the Scottish Government, which she claimed was “dangerously complacent”.

“Winter hasn’t even begun and already A&E is at breaking point, with thousands of people every single week facing life-threatening waits,” she said.

“NHS staff are doing everything they can to keep patients safe, but they too are being let down by the SNP.

“Scotland’s NHS is heading for a catastrophe this winter if the SNP does not get a grip on this crisis.

“We need urgent action to address the underlying issues piling pressure on overstretched hospitals – from tackling delayed discharge to supporting staff to driving down waiting lists.”

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane described the figures as “atrocious” and showed a “real risk” of the NHS collapsing this winter.

He said: “After 17 years of nationalist incompetence, A&E waiting times have dropped to their worst level in six months, with well over a third of patients waiting over four hours to be seen.

“Despite the best efforts of hardworking NHS staff, SNP ministers’ dreadful workforce planning and lack of a clear strategy means A&E services are totally overwhelmed and unable to meet the demand from patients.

“Unlike the career politicians at Holyrood, I have worked as a doctor for almost two decades and I know first-hand the pressure my colleagues are under.

“Unless Neil Gray acts now, there is a real risk of our NHS collapsing this winter. He should start by backing our common-sense plans and bold vision for a modern, efficient, and local health service.”

In recent years, A&E waiting times have worsened during the winter and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has claimed this year is likely to be worse than last.