A&E waiting times in Scotland match worst level of record

New figures show that waiting times across A&E departments in Scotland have matched their worst level on record.

 

The Scottish government’s target is for 95 per cent of patients to be admitted or discharged within four hours.  However, the figure was 66.2 per cent in the week up to 10^th April, matching the previous low level recorded in the week up to 20^th March.

 

The most recent figures show 7,705 of the 22,774 people who attended the emergency department waited for longer than four hours.  Of these, 2,373 waited longer than eight hours and 944 were in hospital for longer than 12 hours.

 

Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Scottish Conservatives health spokesman, said it was “completely unacceptable” that over one-third of patients were waiting for longer than four hours in emergency departments.

 

“A&E, like our health service generally, is on its knees and yet the SNP’s only solution for the crisis is the health secretary’s flimsy Covid Recovery Plan, which simply isn’t cutting it.  Patients and shattered staff deserve so much better.”

 

A Scottish government spokesperson said “The Covid-19 pandemic continues to put pressure on hospitals and this week’s performance against the four-hour A&E measure was 66.2%.

 

“However, the figure is likely to be an undercount and direct weekly comparisons are difficult as NHS Highland was unable to submit complete data due to a technical issue.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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