Increase in number of people experiencing long A&E waits ‘putting lives at risk’
The Scottish Government has been accused of putting patients’ lives “at risk” after figures showed an increase in the number of people experiencing long waits at A&E.
The Tories said it was “shameful” that more than 1,100 people waited more than 12 hours in emergency departments in the week up to April 20.
Some 4.2% (1,127) of patients waited more than a dozen hours that week, an increase from the 3.9% (1,050) figure the week before.
The SNP’s gross mismanagement of our NHS continues to put patients’ lives at risk every single week in our A&E departments
The number of patients waiting more than eight hours also rose to 10.5% (2,793) – an increase from 9.4% (2,530) the week before.
The percentage of patients being seen within four hours decreased from 68.5% (18,446) to 66.5% (17,724) week-on-week, the data from Public Health Scotland showed.
Dr Sandesh Gulhane, health spokesman for the Tories at Holyrood, said the SNP had failed the NHS.
He said: “The SNP’s gross mismanagement of our NHS continues to put patients’ lives at risk every single week in our A&E departments.
“John Swinney might have taken charge of the SNP’s NHS crisis, but staff and patients are still suffering complete chaos in hospital corridors.
“It is shameful that over 1,000 Scots waited more than half-a-day to be seen after turning up at A&E departments, especially when we are well into the spring period.
“Successive SNP health secretaries have failed Scotland’s NHS for 18 years now.
“It is time for Neil Gray to urgently back common-sense plans to urgently get money to the front line, and stop it being squandered on pointless bureaucracy within the health service.”
Our A&E departments are facing sustained pressure and we remain in close contact with boards to ensure they have the necessary measures in place to cope with any peaks in demand
Scottish Labour’s health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: “These figures are the latest reminder that the SNP has lost control of the hospital corridors.
“Patients are condemned to waiting hours in limbo while doctors and nurses are trying to do their jobs in overcrowded, chaotic wards.
“Our NHS needs a new direction and Scottish Labour is ready to deliver it.”
Health Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish Government was investing in the health service to reduce waiting times.
He said: “Our A&E departments are facing sustained pressure and we remain in close contact with boards to ensure they have the necessary measures in place to cope with any peaks in demand.
“High levels of delayed discharge continue to impact patient flow and contribute to delays – we are investing £200 million to drive improvements and enhance capacity.
“To help relieve pressure on A&E we will deliver direct access to specialist frailty teams in every emergency department by summer 2025 and expand Hospital at Home to at least 2,000 beds by the end of 2026.
“These are just some of the measures we are undertaking to shift the balance of care from acute to community.”
