Day: March 6, 2024

A&E waiting times hit all time high in Scotland

‘UNDERFUNDED, OVERCROWDED and, at times, UNSAFE’


New data released yesterday (5 March 2024) for Scotland reveals January was the worst month on record for people waiting to be seen in A&E.

The figures published by Public Health Scotland show that, in January 2024:

  • 41,161 (38%) patients waited over four hours in major Emergency Departments, a 21% increase compared to last January (33,962) 
  • 17,077 (16%) of patients waited eight hours or more in Emergency Departments, almost 13 times higher than in January 2016 (1,338) 
  • 8,402 (8%) of patients waited twelve hours or more in Emergency Departments, the largest amount for any January since records began and 36 times higher than in January 2016 (232). 

There were 1,866 beds occupied due to delayed discharges, an increase of 53 compared to December 2023. 

Dr JP Loughrey, Royal College of Emergency Medicine Vice President for Scotland said: “This is beyond exasperating. Most people attend A&E in desperate need – to be seen by a medical professional quickly and with dignity.

“Already struggling, patients are having to endure overcrowded waiting rooms and corridors – for hours. If admission is required, they must wait for a bed – for hours.

“This latest data makes for grim reading, and it is incredibly demoralising for my colleagues to be working under such strenuous circumstances.

“They are working all out to put patients first whilst also having to carry the burden of working in an underfunded, overcrowded, and at times unsafe emergency care system. We need intervention from the Government and policy makers to ensure we never reach this nadir again.”

The data also reports:

In January 2024, there were 108,427 attendances at major Emergency Departments in Scotland. This is marginal decrease of 0.25% compared to the previous month. 

  • 62% of patients were seen within four hours at major (Type 1) Emergency Departments. This is the worst four-hour performance for any January since records began.
  • This is a decrease of 0.5 percentage points compared to December last year and a decrease of 3.2 percentage points compared to January 2023. 
  • 41,161 (38%) patients waited over four hours in major Emergency Departments. This is a 1% increase compared to December last year (40,763) and a 21% increase compared to January 2023 (33,962). 
  • The number of patients waiting more than four hours has increased by more than three times compared to January 2016 (9,808). 
  • 17,077 (16%) patients waited eight hours or more in Emergency Departments. 
  • The proportion waiting this long has increased by 2% compared to the previous month, December 2023 and has increased by 2.3% compared to the previous year, January 2023. 
  • The numbers waiting more than eight hours is almost 13 times those in January 2016 (1,338). 
  • 8,402 (8%) of patients waited twelve hours or more in Emergency Departments  
  • This is the largest amount for any January since records began. 
  • The proportion waiting this long has increased by almost 1% compared to December last year and has increased by more than 1% compared to January 2023. 
  • The numbers waiting more than 12 hours is 36 times those in January 2016 (232). 
  • There were 1,866 beds occupied due to delayed discharges, an increase of 53 compared to December 2023. 

Chancellor to set out ‘Budget for Long Term Growth’

TUC: Long-term growth promise “farcical”

  • Chancellor expected to unveil a Spring Budget that will deliver long term growth
  • Jeremy Hunt will set out a plan to build a high wage, high skill economy
  • Sets out path to more investment, more jobs, more productive public services and lower taxes

The Chancellor will today deliver a Spring Budget that will deliver a long-term plan for growth in the United Kingdom.

Since the Prime Minister set out his five priorities for the government last year, inflation has more than halved from 11% to 4%, the economy has recovered more quickly from the pandemic than first thought, and debt is on track to fall.

Thanks to the stability their economic plan has brought, the country is now at a turning point but there is more work to do to bring inflation down further.

Jeremy Hunt will highlight the government’s focus on the long-term decisions needed to strengthen the British economy and give people the opportunity to build a wealthier, more secure life for themselves and their family.

The Chancellor is expected to say: “In recent times the UK economy has dealt with a financial crisis, a pandemic and an energy shock caused by a war on the European continent.

“Yet despite the most challenging economic headwinds in modern history, under Conservative governments since 2010 growth has been higher than every large European economy – unemployment has halved, absolute poverty has gone down, and there are 800 more people in jobs for every single day we’ve been in office.

“Of course, interest rates remain high as we bring down inflation. But because of the progress we’ve made because we are delivering on the Prime Minister’s economic priorities we can now help families with permanent cuts in taxation.

“We do this not just to give help where it is needed in challenging times. But because Conservatives know lower tax means higher growth. And higher growth means more opportunity and more prosperity.

“But if we want that growth to lead to higher wages and higher living standards for every family in every corner of the country, it cannot come from unlimited migration. It can only come by building a high wage, high skill economy. Not just higher GDP, but higher GDP per head.

“And that’s the difference with the Labour Party. They will destroy jobs with 70 new burdens on employers, reduce opportunities by halving new apprenticeships and risk family finances with new spending that pushes up tax.

“Instead of going back to square one, our plans mean more investment, more jobs, more productive public services and lower taxes – sticking to our plan in a Budget for Long Term Growth.”

Mr Hunt will go on to warn: “An economy based on sound money does not pass on its bills to the next generation.

“When it comes to borrowing, some believe there is a choice between responsibility and compassion. They are wrong.

“It is only because we responsibly reduced the deficit by 80% between 2010 and 2019 that we could generously provide £400 billion to help families and businesses in the pandemic.

“The Labour Party opposed our plans to reduce the deficit every step of the way. But at least they were consistent.

“The Liberal Democrats supported controlling spending in office, but now want to prop up a party after the election that will turn on the spending taps. It’s the difference between Labour with no plan and the Liberal Democrats with no principles.

“But we say something different.

“With the pandemic behind us, we must once again be responsible and increase our resilience to future shocks. That means bringing down borrowing so we can start to reduce our debt.”

Chancellor’s promise of “long-term growth” is “farcical”

Responding to the Chancellor’s promise of a “Budget for Long Term Growth” TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Chancellor’s promises are farcical. 

“The Conservatives have been in power for 14 years. It’s a bit late for them to come up with a plan for long-term growth – especially when our economy is in recession. 

“This is desperate spin from a government that has manifestly failed on growth, living standards and public services.”