Longer waiting times at A&E
People turning up to A&E at St John’s Hospital are facing lengthy delays.
Newly-released figures show that in July 114 patients waited over eight hours to be seen and 17 waited more than 12 hours.
In that period, 4958 people attended the A&E department and 4074 were seen within the four hour target. And in June, 67 people waited over eight hours and 14 more than 12.
The stats are the most recent available for St John’s, but figures for NHS Lothian reveal a record low of two out of three patients being seen within four hours at A&E departments.
Health bosses said emergency departments were experiencing “unprecedented demand”.
Jacquie Campbell, chief officer, acute services, NHS Lothian said: “Our emergency departments are exceptionally busy as we experience unprecedented demand for our services. Unfortunately, this impacts waiting times and we apologise to anyone who has had to wait longer than expected.
“Our staff are working incredibly hard to deal with demand, and we have a clear system in place to ensure patients who need the most urgent care are seen first.
However, waiting times are also part of wider pressures across our health and care system which can block the flow of patients from our emergency departments.
“Our hospitals are full because increasing numbers of patients are being admitted with complex health problems who require longer stays. Staff absences due to sickness or selfisolation also reduces the number of hospital beds we can safely keep open.
“Pressures on the community and social care system also has an impact. This means patients who are medically fit to leave hospital cannot always be discharged if they need onward care in a more homely setting.
“We urge the public to please only attend A&E if it’s a life-threatening emergency. If it’s not life threatening, or you think you need to visit a Minor Injury Unit, please call NHS 24 on 111 first, day or night.
“You can also find information about the range of health services that are available in your local area and self-care guidance and advice online by visiting NHS Inform.”
In Lothian, for the week ending September 12, 66.1 per cent of patients were seen within the four hour standard, with an attendance of 5,171 patients – the record for the highest number of attendances in a week.
The number of attendances at A&E is more than double what they were at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, when there were 2112 attendances for the week ending March 29, 2020.
The previous lowest number of patients seen within the four hour standard was the week ending December 17, 2017, when 68.3 per cent of patients were seen.
Conservative Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “Throughout lockdown people across Scotland made huge sacrifices to stop the spread of the virus and protect NHS Scotland.
“There has been ample time for SNP Ministers to plan how the health service recovers from Covid-19, however A&E services are in crisis.
“NHS Lothian staff have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic, but SNP Ministers haven’t given them the support they need to deal with the crisis.”
Nicola Sturgeon announced last week that she was calling in the army to help deal with the ambulance crisis as pressure mounts on the health service.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The Covid pandemic has inevitably affected A&E attendance and the pressure is being felt across the UK.
“Our NHS staff have faced unprecedented pressures over recent weeks as they work tirelessly and consistently to respond to the pandemic whilst continuing to provide vital treatment and optimal patient care.
“Weekly performance is impacted due to a range of challenges including high attendances, staffing pressures due to isolation and annual leave and the continued requirement for infection control precautions that is affecting the time people need to spend in A&E.
“This is combined with increased levels of people attending A&E who are much sicker and require higher levels of care.”