Public Health Scotland data – The NEN

Scotland A&E system ‘at risk of collapse’ this winter, RCEM warns

Thousands of patients left waiting 12 hours EVERY SINGLE MONTH

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is raising the alarm ahead of winter, as new stats show that Emergency Departments (EDs) are struggling more than they were this time last year.

The latest data, from Public Health Scotland, showed that in September 2026 8,441 patients (6.7% of total attendances) at major EDs waited more than 12 hours before being admitted, discharged or transferred.

That’s almost 2,000 more than in September 2025.

RCEM is calling on the Scottish Government to tackle the bed capacity issue which is largely driving many of these long waits and for a reduction in corridor care by 50%.

When patients at the ‘back door’ of the hospital can be discharged in good time, it allows A&E to admit new patients into beds, freeing up Emergency Care space.

Meanwhile, just 60.6% of patients waited fewer than four hours – well below the 95% target set by the NHS.

Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM Scotland Vice President, said: “Throughout 2026, EDs have been in a state of crisis with absolutely no room to stretch when extra pressure comes our way.

“Thousands of patients each month have been waiting for more than half a day in our EDs. That’s thousands of our own parents, children, brothers and sisters experiencing agonising waits because of a total breakdown in patient flow.

“As these latest figures show, our Emergency Departments (EDs) are far from ready for the surge in demand which we know will come when winter hits, as it does every year.

“Last winter was incredibly tough – both for patients and for the staff trying their best to look after them. We are entering the cold months now in a worse state than this time last year, despite promise after promise that things would be different.

“We once again call on the government to urgently send support our way in the form of improvements to the ‘back door’ of our hospitals. Lives are at stake, and without immediate intervention, EDs are at risk of collapse.”

Today’s data also showed that:

An average of 1,973 inpatient beds were occupied by patients medically fit to be discharged

12-hour waits in September 2026 were 28 times higher than September 2019

19,589 patients waited more than eight hours – the highest number on record

More performance data here

RCEM demands clear government strategy as Scotland’s EDs record worst-ever February performance

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has asked ‘where are the tangible plans for Emergency Care?’ after Scotland’s A&Es experienced the worst February on record for performance.

The figures, released yesterday (1 April 2025) by Public Health Scotland comes just a day after the Scottish government revealed its ‘operational improvement plan’ which RCEM says ‘missed the mark’ in tackling extreme and dangerous long stays in A&Es.

The new PHS data shows that in A&Es in Scotland in February, 6,072 patients waited 12 hours or longer before being admitted, discharged or transferred.

They also reveal just how much long waits have increased since the 2010s.

Since February 2018, for example, the number of people waiting four hours or more in major EDs has increased by 3.4 times (10,979 to 37,274) eight hours or more by 13 times (1,023 to 13,638) and 12 hours or more by almost 35 times (174 to 6,072).

Patients are often experiencing these extreme long stays on trolleys in corridors due to the lack of available in-patient beds.

People in these beds are often stuck in hospital, despite being well enough to be discharged, because there is no appropriate social care support.

So called ‘delayed discharges’ meant there was an average of 1,986 patients in hospital each day, waiting to be discharged, even though they are well enough to leave. This is the highest number for the month of February since 2016, when guidelines changes.

Responding to the data, Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice President of RCEM Scotland said: “Scotland’s Health Secretary has said he is ‘encouraged’ by a weekly improvement to the four-hour target for admission, treatment or discharge – but our members and their colleagues certainly don’t feel encouraged when you look at the bigger picture.

“Across the board – four, eight and 12 hour waits – were the worst on record for the month of February.

“This should sound alarm bells to politicians and galvanise them to act before A&Es delve into an even deeper crisis.

“This data comes hot on the heels of the government’s NHS improvement plan, which did little to reassure burnout Emergency Medicine clinicians that they won’t be treating patients, who have endured a stay on trolley in a corridor for 12 hours or more, in the weeks, months and years to come.

“It was a golden opportunity, and it missed the mark.

“It’s left us asking, where are the tangible plans for Emergency Care?

“Time is ticking for the government to act and #ResuscitateEmergencyCare.”

Yesterday’s data also comes after the release of the Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Review, published last week, which clearly evidenced the systemic problems in Urgent and Emergency Care across Scotland, and set out national recommendations.

Campaigners raise alarm over Scotland’s high stroke numbers

Responding to the latest annual Scottish Stroke Figures, the Stroke Association has expressed concern that people in Scotland are much more likely to have a stroke than those in the rest of the UK.

The latest data from Public Health Scotland suggests that the incidence rate for stroke (adjusted for age and sex) has decreased by just 2.4% since 2012/13.

John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association, said: “Stroke rates in Scotland are a third higher than for the UK as a whole. We need to see much faster progress if we are to reduce the devastating personal cost of stroke and bring Scotland more in line with its neighbours.

“Worryingly, this report shows that stroke incidence amongst men has actually increased slightly. And those in the most deprived areas are almost twice as likely to be discharged from hospital with a stroke, a gap that has widened in the last year.

“However, there is good news in the report too. Stroke mortality rates continue to decline, indicating that the standard of care and treatment provided by Scotland’s stroke community is helping deliver better outcomes for stroke patients. But even here, there is still much to do.

“We need to see concerted action to address Scotland’s unacceptably high stroke numbers. The Stroke Association is urging greater awareness of and action on atrial fibrillation, a form of irregular heartbeat that greatly increases stroke risk.

“Tens of thousands of people in Scotland are unaware that they have this condition so we urge everyone to check their pulse at home. If it doesn’t feel regular, then go and speak to your GP practice and they can advise on the range of treatments that can dramatically reduce stroke risk.”

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