A&E four-hour target missed for a third of patients, figures show

More than a third of recent attendances at accident and emergency units were not seen within the four-hour target time, according to new figures.

Statistics released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday show only 63.4% of those that attended A&E in the week of March 26 were seen within the four-hour time frame.

The Scottish Government target aims to ensure 95% are seen within that time.

Of the 25,658 attendances, 1,658 people waited longer than 12 hours, while 3,750 waited more than eight hours.

Liberal Democrat Scottish Affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine has urged the new Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, not to “take patients and staff for granted”.

She said: “These new statistics throw Michael Matheson’s assessment that Humza Yousaf was a good health secretary into sharp relief as the longest waits continue to get longer.

“The new Health Secretary cannot afford to keep taking patients and staff for granted just like his predecessor did.

“It’s disheartening that this Government has already shown it would rather prioritise independence than the NHS.

“Michael Matheson should start his tenure as Health Secretary by dropping his Government’s opposition to our constructive proposals such as an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis, a burnout prevention strategy and a health and social care staff assembly.”

Scottish Labour warned that the Health Minister had been left with a “deadly mess” in A&E by his predecessor, Humza Yousaf, who is now First Minister.

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “Michael Matheson has a formidable job ahead of him and his new boss has left him a serious mess to clean up.

“Under Humza Yousaf’s stewardship, A&E wait times skyrocketed and countless lives were lost as a result.

“Mr Yousaf left his role in health without resolving any of the issues such as waiting times and delayed discharge that would have eased the pressure on emergency departments and helped hardworking staff do their jobs.

“I sincerely hope that Michael Matheson will prove more up to the job. He should start by tackling the chaos in A&E, the one-in-seven Scots on waiting lists, and the failure to meet cancer treatment targets.”

Mr Matheson said: “We are determined to ensure health boards have the support they need to deal with the on-going pressure that remains on services right across the health and social care system.

“We are increasing NHS 24 staffing and providing up to £8 million to boards to help alleviate pressure from delayed discharge.

“As part of our nationwide approach, patients who no longer need to be in hospital are being urgently reassessed and those clinically safe to be discharged will be safely moved home or to an interim placement in a care home – freeing up beds for those most in need.”