Ministers accused of being ‘missing in action’ as A&E performance declines

Ministers are “missing in action” over A&E, the Scottish Conservatives have claimed after waiting times worsened.

Public Health Scotland statistics released on Tuesday show 62.3% of people were seen within four hours in the week to October 13.

The figure in the previous week was 62.6%.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said the performance in A&E “is below the level we all wish to see”, adding the recent dip was “in line with typical seasonal trends for this time of year”.

But Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said patients and staff are “paying the price” for a lack of Government support.

The Scottish Government aims for 95% of people to be seen in A&E within four hours.

The proportion of attendances at A&E waiting longer than 12 hours increased from 6.2% to 6.4% in the latest week, while the total number reduced slightly.

The proportion of those waiting more than eight hours rose from 13.4% to 13.7%.

Dr Gulhane – a practising GP – said: “SNP ministers are missing in action despite A&E departments heading for a winter collapse in the coming weeks.

“Suffering patients and dedicated staff are paying the price for their lack of support for frontline NHS care, with thousands of patients enduring potentially deadly delays every single week.

“SNP ministers still refuse to accept that their policies have failed our health service for over 17 years now as they are disconnected from the reality facing patients and staff on a daily basis.

“Those patients and staff just want waiting times reduced and for support to be directed towards crucial services as quickly as possible.”

Dr Gulhane added that if the Government does not deliver a plan to reduce waiting times, the situation will “get even more catastrophic”.

The Health Secretary said: “Although we have the best performing core A&E departments in the UK, performance is below the level we all wish to see, and we are working closely with NHS boards to help support a reduction in long waits.

“The recent dip in performance is in line with typical seasonal trends for this time of year.

“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 Dame Jackie Baillie told ministers to “face facts”, claiming “desperately ill patients are forced to wait life-changing hours just to be seen”.

She added: “(The Scottish Government) should follow the example of the UK Labour Government and tap into the collective wisdom of patients and NHS staff before hospitals slide further into corridor chaos.

“Scotland has been promised a national conversation but we haven’t heard a peep since June, and meanwhile there are ominous signs that this winter will be even tougher for the NHS than last year.

“Scots can’t wait any longer – Labour will deliver the change our NHS needs.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said A&Es are “in a state of crisis”.

He added: “As the days grow colder and darker, waiting times at A&E are only getting longer.”