Government under fire over ‘perpetual crisis’ in accident and emergency

Scottish ministers have come under renewed fire over the “perpetual crisis” in the country’s accident-and-emergency departments as new figures showed an increase in the number of patients forced to wait longer than the target time.

Conservatives claimed that the “atrocious and worsening statistics” showed the NHS was “in ruins” as a result of SNP “mismanagement”.

Labour and Liberal Democrats also joined in the attack on the Scottish Government in the wake of Public Health Scotland data showing that in the week ending February 8 61.4% of A&E patients waited more than than four hours to be either admitted, transferred or discharged.

The figure is down from 61.8% in the previous week, with performance against the A&E target well below the Scottish Government target of having 95% of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour target.

According to the latest data, that target was missed for 10,195 patients in the week ending February 8.

There were 4,212 patients – representing 15.9% of cases – who spent more than eight hours in A&E.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,095 patients – 7.9% of cases – were there for at least 12 hours, with both these totals up from the previous week.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “These atrocious and worsening statistics expose an NHS in ruins after two decades of SNP mismanagement.

“Week after week, thousands of patients are left waiting in pain and distress in bursting A&E departments. We know these dangerous delays cost lives.”

While the Tory MSP insisted frontline hospital staff “are working tirelessly for their patients”, he said they were hindered in this as a result of “years of dire SNP workforce planning”.

Calling for action from the First Minister and his Health Secretary, Dr Gulhane said: “John Swinney and Neil Gray need to get out of the Holyrood bubble and listen to exhausted patients and staff who are crying out for a real plan to address this crisis.”

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie claimed that “A&E is still stuck in a state of constant crisis after years of warm words and empty promises by SNP ministers”.

She said: “With the number of people suffering through dangerously long waits rising yet again, it is clear that John Swinney and the SNP have no idea how to fix this crisis.

“This arrogant and complacent SNP Government expects long-suffering patients to accept the unacceptable and hardworking staff to do the impossible.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Under this SNP Government, our A&E departments are trapped in what feels like a state of perpetual crisis.

“Waits have remained extremely long for years on end with little sign of improvement.”

Arguing that ministers need to improve social care to deal with issues in the NHS, Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “A&E departments are backed up because there are so many people who are stuck in hospital and unable to leave because the care package they need is not available.

“You cannot fix the NHS and bring down A&E waits without fixing social care.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson accepted that “A&E departments are facing sustained pressures”, adding that “health boards continue to report higher levels of hospital occupancy which is impacting on patient flow and leading to delays at the front door”.

The spokesperson said: “We are also seeing higher numbers of A&E attendances compared to the same time last year.

“This situation is not unique to Scotland with all other UK nations experiencing similar pressures.

“However, we are clear that these are below the levels we need to see. That is why we are investing over £220 million to reduce waiting times, improve hospital flow and minimise delayed discharges to improve patient’s experiences.”