A&E waiting times worsen, figures show

Waiting times in Scotland’s emergency departments have worsened, new figures show.

Statistics released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday show 64.9% of patients in the week to March 15 were seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

This figure was down from 66.4% the previous week and well shy of the 95% Scottish Government target.

In the latest week, 1,474 people waited longer than 12 hours in hospital, down from 1,504 the previous week, while 3,481 waited longer than eight hours, up from 3,297.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We recognise that A&E departments are still facing sustained pressure and we are working hard with health boards to drive improvements.

“The challenges facing A&E departments are not unique to Scotland with all other UK nations experiencing similar pressures.

“It is however welcome that the proportion of people facing the longest waits has fallen again – after the almost 25% fall in the previous week’s figures.”

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said A&E departments are in a “state of permanent crisis following two decades of the SNP”.

He added: “Thousands of patients are enduring dangerous delays every single week on their watch, and we know this costs lives.

“Frontline staff are working flat out to treat patients, but SNP incompetence means they simply do not have the resources required to meet waiting times targets.

“If the SNP win a majority in May’s election, their top priority will not be reducing NHS waiting times.

“It will be their secret plan to break up the United Kingdom.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “Week in, week out lives are being put at risk by the chaos in A&E, but the SNP has no idea how to fix this mess.

“NHS staff are working tirelessly to do right by patients, but they are being let down by a complacent and out of touch SNP Government that doesn’t understand the scale of the crisis.”