Nursing staff praised as A&E targets met

Over 95 percent of people attending the Accident and Emergency department at University Hospital Wishaw waited less than four hours to be seen and treated.

The latest statistics on A&E waiting times released by the Scottish Government for week ending July 19 show that across Scotland 94.5 percent of those attending were seen within the set four hour standard, and the Wishaw hospital fared even better at 95.1 percent.

In the preceding three weeks, figures for those attending the Wishaw A&E department and being seen and treated within four hours were recorded at 94, 95.3 and 90 percent.

The figures do come against a backdrop of a huge reduction in people attending A&E over the last few months.

The number of people attending University Hospital Wishaw (UHW) is returning to the levels prior to the Covid-19 lockdown.

A total of 1312 attended for the week ending July 19, up from 1215 the previous week and that compares to 617 who were seen at University Hospital Wishaw’s A&E department for the week ending March 29.

The numbers attending the Wishaw department on week ending February 23 was 1431. Across Scotland as a whole attendances are still significantly below those back in February.

Scottish Government Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, said: “Scotland’s core A&E departments are the best performing in the UK and have been for five years.

“The four hour emergency access target is a barometer for the whole system and is useful to ensure our A&Es and minor injury units (MIUs) are not crowded and can maintain a safe environment for patients and staff during the Covid-19 crisis.

“We are always keen to ensure measures for high quality and effective care and patient safety are considered and we will work with The Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland to ensure these are in place.

“As we move towards carefully and gradually resuming NHS services which were paused as a result of Covid-19, we’ve launched the ‘Should you go to A&E’ campaign to remind people that emergency departments remain open for those who need immediate or emergency care but that for those with less urgent concerns alternative treatment options are available which are often more convenient and closer to home.

“These include contacting your GP practice, or NHS24 on 111 out of hours, visiting a local pharmacy or NHS Inform online will provide advice and direct people to the most appropriate service.”