A&E figures plummet as Freeman tells people not to ignore warnings
The health secretary is warning people in Scotland not to ignore vital signs of serious illnesses after attendance figures at A&E dropped by more than half compared to the same week last year. Jeane Freeman urged patients to keep attending hospital as waiting time figures for the week ending 5 April show that 92.7 per cent of people were seen and treated within four hours.
This comes on the back of comments made by the interim chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith last week who said that parts of the health service are now “eerily quiet” and doctors fear people are not seeking medical help for illnesses and symptoms unrelateed to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Smith warned sick people should still go to their doctors or to hospital if they are unwell, and that medics were finding the lack of non-coronavirus cases “disconcerting”.
His warning came after National Records of Scotland (NRS) published the first of a weekly series of reports that will count all deaths in which coronavirus is recorded as being relevant.
The NRS figures are due to be published again today.
Ms Freeman said: “The A&E waiting times figures for the week ending April 5 show that 92.7 per cent of people were seen and treated within four hours.
“This is due to the continued hard work and dedication of staff in our NHS who are providing an exceptional level of care during these extraordinary times. Each and every one of you has my very grateful thanks.
“While members of the public are continuing to listen to advice and only going to A&E if illnesses are immediate or life threatening, I would like to remind people not to ignore early warning signs of serious conditions. If you have new symptoms then it’s vital you get this checked out either by contacting your GP, or if symptoms are urgent by attending A&E.”
According to the Scottish Conservatives there were 11,263 attendances at A&E for the week ending 5 April 2020 compared to 26,240 for the week ending 7 April 2019 - a drop of 57 per cent.
Tory health spokesperson, Miles Briggs, said: “Attendances at A&E have reduced by over half, compared to this time last year. The British Heart Foundation and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland have both put out a clear message, if you think you’re experiencing a heart attack or a stroke, call 999 immediately.
“A&E services are designed to deal with immediate and life threatening conditions and will remain fully functional throughout the Coronavirus lockdown.”