Improvement in A & E waiting times

More than 95% of patients in Scotland’s core accident and emergency departments were seen, admitted or discharged within four hours, latest figures have revealed. Figures published by ISD Scotland show that performance against the target was 95.3%: up from 94.2% the previous week and 94.7% at the same time last year. Edinburgh’s hospitals performed above the national average, with 96.6% of patients being seen within the four hour target.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “I’d like to thank all the health and social care staff who have contributed to the good performance seen in A&E departments over this week. Scotland has had the best performing emergency departments in the UK for more than two years. This has only been possible thanks to the hard work of NHS and social care workers.

“We have seen a steady reduction in average waits over the last few weeks, and it is encouraging that these weekly statistics show performance above the four hour standard. However, we know that performance fluctuates from week to week, and the challenge now is to ensure that we maintain this target on a consistent basis.

“We will continue to work closely with boards to implement the six essential actions for unscheduled care, which are helping to minimise long waits and improve patient flow through hospitals and into community care. I recently announced an additional £9 million to fund this work, and I am confident that will lead to sustained improvements.”

Background:

The six essential actions for improving unscheduled care are:

• Clinical focussed and empowered hospital management.
• Hospital capacity and patient flow realignment.
• Patient, rather than bed management.
• Medical and surgical processes arranged to improve patient flow through the unscheduled care pathway.
• Seven day services appropriately targeted to reduce variation in weekend and out of hours working
• Ensuring patients are optimally cared for in their own homes or a homely setting.

Ben Macpherson MSP has praised hard-working NHS staff after hospitals in Edinburgh outperformed the 4-hour A&E waiting time target – hospitals in Edinburgh performed above the national figure, with 96.6% of patients being seen within the 4 hour target.

The SNP MSP for Edinburgh Northern & Leith said: “Scotland has had the best performing emergency departments in the UK for more than two years – which is testament to the hard work of NHS staff and social care workers in Edinburgh and across the country.

“We have seen a steady reduction in average waits over the last few weeks, and it is enormously encouraging that these weekly statistics show performance above the four hour standard – and even more encouraging that A&E departments in Edinburgh are performing ahead of the national average. 

“I’ve seen first-hand how hard NHS staff in Edinburgh work and deeply value how committed they are to providing such a vital service – we should all celebrate their success.”