Number of patients dying after long A&E waits more than doubles
Figures from the Scottish Tories found NHS Lothian was the worst affected
Last updated 13th Aug 2023
Scotland has faced a jump in the number of deaths linked to lengthy accident and emergency waits in Scotland over the last 4 years.
743 patients died last year after waiting longer than 4-hours in A&E, according to figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives.
In 2018, 281 people died after waiting in excess of the target response time, but by last year that number had increased by 164%.
The Scottish Conservatives warned the true death toll could be "far higher", pointing out that four health boards did not reply to the party's freedom of information requests.
Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Grampian, and Lanarkshire all declined response to the freedom of information request.
164% increase in deaths linked to extended A&E waits
The figures from the 10 health boards in Scotland that responded showed that a total of 1,965 people died after waiting more than four hours in A&E, with over half occurring in hospitals operated by NHS Lothian.
The health board said the figures were intended to stimulate further reflection and investigation.
Medical director for NHS Lothian, Dr Tracey Gillies, said: "The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is the busiest and largest hospital in NHS Lothian and provides local and regional services, as well as one of the major trauma centres, for some of the sickest and most seriously injured patients in south-east Scotland.
"Our teams are committed to continually provide safe and effective patient-centred care.”
Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR) data are reported quarterly to allow understanding of deaths that occur within 30 days of admission to hospital.
NHS Lothian said patients who died in the emergency department were not included in these statistics.
Dr Gillies added: “"The HSMR is a useful statistical tool which is intended to provide predictions around the number of deaths in hospital and provoke further reflection and investigation.
"Our teams will now carefully consider the data used to create those predicted numbers to make any changes and if necessary carry out a further review."
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane hit out at the SNP over the "tragic and ultimately avoidable deaths".
He said: "After 16 years in government, the SNP are clearly out of ideas when it comes to fixing the issues in our NHS."
He called upon Health Secretary Michael Matheson to follow the Scottish Conservatives' vision for the national health service, adding: “Each death is someone's friend or loved one.
“Suffering patients are paying the ultimate price for Humza Yousaf's inaction as health secretary.”
"Each death is someone's friend or loved one"
The Scottish Government said it understands performance is "not where it needs to be" and is committed to lowering the waiting times for patients in A&E.
A spokesperson said: "We fully recognise that longer waits in A&E are detrimental to patient outcomes which is why we remain committed to delivering improved A&E performance.
"Performance against the four-hour target has stabilised. However, we know performance is still not where it needs to be and we are working closely with the health boards facing the greatest challenges in A&E, to drive down waiting times and improve services for patients and staff."