Waiting times increase

Waiting times at University Hospital Hairmyres rose slightly according to latest figures.

Statistics for the week ending Sunday, December 23 reveal that 87.2 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within the four hour target at the town’s A&E – that’s compared to 93.6 per cent the previous week.

The Scottish Government target is 95 per cent in four hours.

Latest statistics for the East Kilbride unit were slightly below the NHS Scotland figure of 88.5 and the NHS Lanarkshire figure of 91 per cent.

Hairmyres also fared worse than University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie where 92.5 per cent of patients were seen within four hours and University Hospital Wishaw where the figure recorded was 92.9 per cent of patients.

Meanwhile, latest statistics go on to reveal that 22 patients waited over eight hours at Hairmyres and one over 12, compared to 11 and none respectively at Monklands and eight and none at Wishaw.