524 patients faced a long wait at A&E
Weekly RAH figures show slight improvement
Waiting times at Paisley’s floundering Royal Alexandra Hospital have dropped slightly after hitting a worst ever high two weeks ago.
New figures show that 62.2 per cent of patients who attended at the facility’s emergency unit were treated, admitted, transferred or discharged within the Scottish Government’s four hour target.
Guidelines call for 95 per cent of patients to be seen within the time frame.
Data also reveals that of the 1,063 patients who attended in the week leading up to October 24, 402 waited more than four hours, while 116 were seen within eight hours or more.
Six patients waited longer than 12 hours.
It represents an improvement from the previous week’s figures which had slumped to the worst since available records began in February 2015.
Despite the lower number of patients attending A&E, which fell to 988 in the week until October 17, just 58.2 per cent were treated in line with the four hour standard and some 78 waited 12 hours or more.
Paisley-based MSP Neil Bibby has branded the situation at the Royal Alexandra as “deeply concerning”.
The Express reported last week how unions revealed a “chronic shortage” of staff was crippling services and pleaded with GPs to see more patients face-to-face in a bid to reassure them and keep them from attending struggling A&E.
NHS bosses have also told how their departments are under siege from minor ailments.
A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “At the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and at all emergency departments across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, patients who need the most urgent care continue to be seen most quickly.
“If you are in any doubt about who you should contact, please call NHS24 on 111 to access the appropriate care.
“Some people are facing a long wait, and we’re very sorry for that.
“At the RAH, the position over the last week has shown improvement, but, unfortunately, our emergency department is still seeing people who do not need to be there, with common inappropriate presentations including period pain, dental pain, urinary tract infections, sore throat (less than one day) and rashes.”
New Scottish Government guidance for emergency care aims to ensure patients are being seen by the right team at the most appropriate place.
Developed in response to pleas from NHS boards, including Greater Glasgow and Clyde, it allows staff to offer advice to patients advice and direct them away from A&E departments to more suitable healthcare settings if they are deemed not to need urgent treatment.
Deputy medical director for NHSGGC, Dr Scott Davidson, added: “We already work closely with NHS 24 to direct people to the right place from their own homes.
“This new guidance enables us to support people who have attended an emergency department, but who do not need to be seen there to be directed elsewhere with appropriate advice.
“By following these processes, you can help us protect and support our emergency departments to help the sickest patients.”
Phone NHS24 on 111 in the first instance if you need help.
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