Long A&E waits now the ‘shocking norm’ in Scotland, claim Tories

Long waits in Scotland’s emergency departments have become the “shocking norm”, the Scottish Tories have claimed.

Figures released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday show 62.6% of patients in the week to March 1 were seen and subsequently admitted, discharged or transferred within the four-hour target time.

This is down from 63.4% the previous week and still well below the Government’s 95% target.

In the same week, 15% of attendees – 4,048 people – at A&E waited more than eight hours, up from 14.6% the week before.

The figures also show 7.2% of patients – 1,934 – waited more than 12 hours, down from 7.4% the previous week but an increase in the total number from 1,910.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “These appalling figures show Scotland’s NHS is in complete chaos after two decades of SNP mismanagement.

“It is the shocking norm on the SNP’s watch that thousands of patients have to spend hours suffering dangerous delays before they are seen at A&E.

“Frontline staff are working flat-out to support patients but they are not miracle workers.

“The SNP’s dire workforce planning and flimsy recovery plans were exposed in a damning report last week which confirmed Scotland’s hospitals have still not returned to pre-Covid levels of activity.

“John Swinney and Neil Gray desperately need to get out of the Holyrood bubble and listen to exhausted medics and patients.

“They’re crying out for a serious plan to fix the permanent crisis in A&E.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray acknowledged “performance remains below the levels we need to see”.

He added: “Our A&E departments are facing sustained pressures, health boards continue to report high levels of hospital occupancy, which is impacting on patient flow and leading to delays at the front door.

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

“However, we are clear performance remains 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 patients’ experiences.

“This includes up to £20 million of winter funding to support increased social care and reduce pressure on the hospital front door, to make sure people get the right care in the right place.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie described the Scottish Government as “complacent and out-of-touch”.

She said: “For years, long A&E waits have been causing misery for patients and piling pressure on staff, but things keep getting worse instead of better.

“This complacent and out-of-touch SNP Government keeps telling us things are getting better in the NHS, but the facts don’t lie.

“It’s clear that (First Minister) John Swinney and the SNP have no idea how to fix the mess they have made of our NHS – but a Scottish Labour government is ready to deliver where they have failed.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton accused the Government of having “abandoned” staff and patients.

“A&E departments have been stuck in crisis conditions for years now, with little to no sign of things improving,” he said.

“The SNP have abandoned staff and patients and the only action the SNP Government can muster is warm words.”