Scotland records worst ever Accident and Emergency waiting times
Just over 63% of patients were seen within the target time in the last week in October
Last updated 8th Nov 2022
Scotland's accident and emergency departments have recorded their worst ever waiting times on record, with just 63.1% of patients seen within the target time.
The latest official figures show, in the week ending October 30, more than 9,600 people waited longer than four hours to be treated and either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.
The Scottish Government aims to have 95% of those attending in A&E to be dealt with within four hours.
The latest figures from Public Health Scotland also reveal there were 3,393 patients who were in A&E for eight hours or more, with 1,447 there for a minimum of 12 hours.
Health Secretary says "we all have a part to play in reducing pressure on services"
In the wake of the latest data, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf issued a plea for people to only go to A&E "if their condition is an emergency".
He told people: "We all have a part to play in reducing pressure on services this winter."
But opposition parties said the "deplorable" waits were a symptom of the SNP's "catastrophic" handling of the NHS.
Scottish Conservative health spokesman, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, said: "Just when you think Humza Yousaf's catastrophic stewardship of the NHS can't get any worse, fresh stats come out to prove you wrong."
While Dr Gulhane said the "latest record-low A&E figures are deplorable" he added there was "fresh evidence" that the figures could "actually underestimate the scale of the crisis".
Dr Gulhane continued: "What isn't in doubt is that thousands of patients across Scotland continue to suffer unacceptable waits at our emergency departments - patients that could easily be you or your loved ones - and needless deaths will have occurred as a result.”
Scottish Labour continue calls for Humza Yousaf to go
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “The SNP’s race to the bottom must be stopped before things get any worse for our A&E departments.
“For months Scottish Labour has been calling on the Scottish Government to get a handle on this crisis, and yet we are continually left with record-breaking failures and nothing but empty words and endless excuses from this hopeless Health Secretary.”
The Health Secretary accepted that the waiting times performance of emergency departments was "not where I want it to be".
Mr Yousaf said: "Covid continues to impact the delivery and performance of services and pandemic backlogs, Brexit-driven staff shortages, and inflation costs have all contributed to make this the most challenging winter the NHS has ever faced. As a result, we will continue to see fluctuations in performance over the course of winter.
"Despite this, I am clear that A&E performance is not where I want it to be."
Scottish Government plans to recruit 1,000 new NHS staff
Mr Yousaf continued: "We have seen a rise in overall attendances, the largest increase in four weeks, and delayed discharge continues to be the single biggest factor driving up A&E waits.
"We are striving to ensure people leave hospital without delay and receive the right care in the right setting, ensuring vital hospital beds are there for those who need them most.
"We all have a part to play in reducing pressure on services this winter and I would urge people to only attend A&E if their condition is an emergency."
He added that the Scottish Government's ÂŁ600 million winter plan "will see us recruit 1,000 new NHS staff, including up to 750 frontline nurses from overseas".