Hairmyres hits rock bottom for waiting times
Hairmyres Hospital has the worst accident and emergency waiting times in Scotland – again.
And findings by NHS Scotland show NHS Lanarkshire to be the worst performing health board for A&E waiting times too.
Just 77.2 per cent of patients in the health board were seen within four hours in December, with an average of 72.1 at Hairmyres – the worst of Lanarkshire’s three A&E sites.
The East Kilbride hospital recorded the worst A&E waiting times for the week ending October 20 – with just 69.8 per cent of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.
That sparked an apology from health board bosses, with standards falling way below the government’s 95 per cent target.
Now Labour Shadow health spokeswoman, Monica Lennon MSP, has hit out at the health board – and the Scottish Government – over the performance level.
She called it “deeply worrying” that NHS Lanarkshire posted such poor attainment levels and questioned why the health secretary has “seen fit” to send NHS Lanarkshire’s chief executive, Calum Campbell, to neighbouring Greater
Glasgow and Clyde. He was seconded there as turnaround director following the Queen Elizabeth hospital scandal
Ms Lennon said: “NHS Lanarkshire clearly has its own long list of challenges to fix
“Bosses there have been pleading with people to visit the pharmacy, their GP or call NHS 24 – but many people are turning to A&E because they simply can’t get a GP or out-of-hours appointment easily.
“It is hardworking NHS staff and patients who are being let down. This needs urgent attention from the Scottish Government.”
NHS Scotland figures show 5320 A&E attendances at Hairmyres in December, adding to the pressure felt by staff there.
And it shows, with the unit continuing to struggle, with an 83.9 per cent performance level for week ending January 26.
For the same week 20 patients waited over EIGHT HOURS, with 10 waiting OVER 12 HOURS at Hairmyres.
It comes after pleas from health bosses were reiterated this week to stay away from A&E unless absolutely necessary.
At Wishaw General that week, 92.5 per cent of patients were seen within four hours, with 90.5 at Monklands Hospital.
Tory MSP Graham Simpson said: “These figures, the worst on record, show the SNP Scottish Government must be held to account for growing A&E wait times in Lanarkshire, and across the country.
“I can only imagine the discomfort and pain that patients must endure while waiting for treatment which in turn, adds to the stress and burnout of A&E staff.”
But East Kilbride SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said staff are being put under “needless pressure” due to unnecessary visits.
She added: “NHS Lanarkshire staff are under immense pressure as a result of patients turning up at Hairmyres where there has been no accident or emergency.
“We are fortunate that staff at Hairmyres continue to do such a good job. The SNP in Government continue to provide our NHS with increased funding, and have done so year-on year.
“The budget proposals for the next financial year will, for the first time, commit over £15bn on our NHS. Staffing remains at an all-time high too.”