Fewer patients wait 12 hours or more in A&E, weekly figures show

The number of patients waiting longer than 12 hours in Scottish emergency departments has continued to fall.

The latest figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS) show there were 691 unplanned attendances of more than 12 hours in emergency wards in the week ending May 28, making up 2.6% of all unplanned attendances.

This is down from the previous week’s figures, where 739 people spent more than 12 hours in emergency departments.

In the latest week, 18,185 A&E attendances resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours, which was 68.6% of patients.

This is roughly unchanged from the previous week, when 69.2% of patients were seen within the four-hour target.

Monthly data for all A&E sites in April was also released by PHS on Tuesday.

This is up slightly from the previous month’s figure of 68%.

The target of ensuring 95% of patients are seen and then admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours has not been met since before the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Conservatives highlighted that A&E waiting times are still well below target.

Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “These horrific figures highlight that Humza Yousaf’s disastrous tenure as health secretary is continuing to have a devastating impact on our A&E departments.

“It is disgraceful that only 68.6% of patients were seen within four hours.

“Even though we are now fast approaching high summer – as far away from the winter peak as possible – our A&E performance is heading backwards under the SNP, despite the best efforts of my colleagues on the frontline.

“This is utterly unacceptable. Lives are being needlessly and tragically lost as patients bear the brunt of the SNP’s dire workforce planning and Humza Yousaf’s flimsy NHS recovery plan.”