RAH’s A&E wait times rise again
A&E wait times at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital have risen again after making a brief recovery.
Latest data shows waiting times performance has dropped once more at the under pressure Corsebar Road site.
It comes as hospital chiefs, once again, plead with patients to avoid
A&E departments unless essential to lessen the strain.
Improvements two weeks ago saw 67.3 per cent of patients seen and discharged within the Scottish Government’s four-hour waiting time target.
But the figure dropped this week as 66.5 per cent of the 1,128 patients who attended the RAH’s emergency department were seen within four hours.
The Scottish Government’s target is for 95 per cent of patients to be admitted, transferred or discharged within a four-hour timeframe from arrival.
But the target has rarely been met in Scotland for months as staff battle on to maintain services in the wake of the pandemic.
The RAH has notched up some of the worst A&E performances in Scotland in recent months.
Figures for the week ending April 24 show some 378 patients waited more than four hours, while 131 waited eight or more.
Data shows 21 patients waited 12 hours or more.
Politicians have repeatedly hit out at the SNP Government’s record on health since the pandemic began, as services struggle.
But Health Minister Humza Yousaf says measures have been taken to boost the NHS, including a £300million investment to help services deal with pressures last winter, alongside an £11m five-year package aimed at recruiting staff nationally and internationally and funding of up to £15m to help health boards hire staff to provide additional capacity across a range of services.
The Scottish Government also says Scotland has the best paid NHS staff in the UK.
But A&E performance continues to be a concern, with just 44.8 per cent of the 1,840 patients who attended Govan’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital seen within four hours, according to the latest figures.
The site is also operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Scotland’s largest health board.
Dr Scott Davidson, deputy medical director for acute services at NHSGGC, pictured above, said:“While Covid-19 case numbers are reducing and restrictions continue to be eased, the pressures on all our services are still significant.
“Our hospitals are near capacity and while our staff are doing everything they can to care for the patients they are seeing, they continue to face significant challenges.”
He urged patients to consider their options, before visiting hospital, adding:“Hopefully, we will see an improvement soon, but, in the meantime, we are asking the public to do all they can to support our staff and services.
“If you feel you or someone you know needs medical help, we would strongly urge that you do all you can to support our staff and services, by carefully considering all the options available to you.
“If you have a minor ailment, a community pharmacy will be able to help, and GPs are open and continue to offer a wide range of healthcare services.
“If you think you need urgent medical help, please contact your GP or call NHS24 on 111.
“These are the best places to access the care you need.
“Please do not come to A&E unless you are suffering from a very urgent or life-threatening condition.”
UK Government Health minister,Sajid Javid has this week threatened to ‘name and shame’English NHS Trusts who do not ease pandemic restrictions quickly enough, including scrapping social distancing in emergency departments and ambulance and outpatient settings.
The latest covid data for Renfrewshire shows a fall in cases.
Just 573 positive tests were recorded in the seven days leading up to April 30, according to latest figures - a seven day positivity rate of 319.4 per 100,000 population.