A&E departments miss waiting-times target in January
Performance was down from last month.
Last updated 7th Mar 2017
Scotland's accident-and-emergency (A&E) departments again missed a key waiting-times target in January.
Figures show that of the 128,648 people who attended A&E at the start of the year, 91.8% were seen and either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours - below the Scottish Government's target of 95%.
Performance was down on the previous month, with 92.6% of patients seen within four hours in December.
Over the month, 1,480 (1.2%) patients spent more than eight hours in A&E while 377 (0.3%) waited more than 12 hours. The Lib Dems said it was the worst performance in a year.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said:
As we have seen throughout the year, A&E figures will fluctuate week-to-week and we are monitoring this closely to ensure no-one is waiting longer than absolutely necessary in our emergency departments.
Our core A&Es have consistently out-performed those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - and have done for the last 22 consecutive months of published statistics.
Additionally, performance for the year to January 2017 is the highest since year ending January 2013.
We have put record investment and increased levels of staffing into our hospitals to achieve this - including an extra £3 million for health boards to support preparations over winter.
We know that a small number of sites are still facing particular challenges with demand and performance, and the Government is working closely with those health boards to provide any additional support required.''
Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton called on the Scottish Government to ensure the NHS is better-prepared for winter.
He said: Despite the tireless efforts of doctors and nurses in hospitals across the country, A&E targets have been missed month after month under this SNP government.
These statistics confirm that more than 10,000 people waited longer than four hours to be seen during January.
Staff and patients are consistently being let down by a Scottish Government failing to prepare properly for winter and failing to get to grips with the challenges facing our health service.''