‘Perpetual crisis’ in A&E as waits rocket

Worst-ever total for casualty patients hit by delay beyond the four-hour target time for treatment

WAITING times in Scotland’s A&Es are the worst they have ever been amid claims staff shortages are leaving the service in ‘perpetual crisis’.

Only 64.9 per cent of patients were seen within four hours, the latest weekly NHS figures show.

A total of 9,108 A&E patients waited more than four hours in the week up to July 3.

This figure overtakes the previous high of 8,993 people reported the previous week.

The Scottish Government says staff absences from Covid and summer holidays have contributed to the rise in waiting time.

Its own target is for 95 per cent of patients to be seen and subsequently discharged or admitted within four hours.

A further 3,090 patients spent more than eight hours waiting to be seen, while 1,153 languished for more than 12 hours.

Yesterday marked two years to the day since the 95 per cent target was last met. Since then, nearly half a million A&E patients have endured delays.

The Royal College of Nursing Scotland (RCN) and Unison have told members to reject a 5 per cent pay deal offered by the Scottish Government, saying union members deserve a pay rise in line with the rate of inflation. Colin

Poolman, the RCN’s interim director, said: ‘These statistics won’t come as a surprise to the nursing staff who continue to raise serious concerns about severe staffing shortages and the impact these are having on patient care.

‘Staffing shortages across the hospital sector, community and social care all have a direct impact on the flow of patients into and out of emergency departments.

‘The Scottish Government must take urgent action to tackle unsafe staffing levels and recruit and retain enough staff to deliver safe and effective care.’

Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘Long waits in A&E used to be a sign that there were problems and pressures elsewhere in the NHS system, but the SNP have ignored the warnings.

‘Now our NHS is in perpetual crisis with thousands of lives being put at risk at A&E departments on a weekly basis. This distracted SNP Government is putting lives at risk and threatening the very existence of our NHS.’

Craig Hoy, Scottish Conservative spokesman on social care, said: ‘This should represent a new source of shame for the SNP Health Secretary. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse on his watch, it does.’

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: ‘Despite this ever-deepening crisis, this Government has decided to shift focus to an unwanted independence referendum.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘In the four weeks leading up to Sunday, July 3, there was an over 100 per cent increase in Covid-related staff absences.

‘This is coming at a time when we have increased numbers of staff on well-deserved leave during school holidays.

‘Despite these pressures, nearly two-thirds of patients are being seen in our A&E departments within the four-hour target.’

‘A new source of shame’