The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Probe gives Ninewells A&E clean bill of health
No evidence waiting time figures were manipulated
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer said there is no evidence to support allegations that waiting time figures at Ninewells A&E are being manipulated.
In a report that follows her factfinding visit to the department in Dundee, Dr Catherine Calderwood said the current model of care was “safe and clinically appropriate.”
But she also stated that communication between emergency department staff and other specialty teams could be better.
Whistle-blowers had claimed that surgical teams were barred from assessing potentially seriously ill patients until they had left A&E in order to keep waiting times down.
Dr Calderwood said she found nothing to support this accusation.
She said: “Following my visit I am satisfied that the principles that underpin NHS Tayside’s emergency department model is patient safety and outcome focused and not target driven.
“There is no evidence to support the allegation that patients are admitted to specialty wards, or specialty doctors are unable to see patients within the emergency department, purely to achieve targets.
“NHS Tayside has also confirmed that surgeons and physicians regularly attend the A&E department to assess patients,” said Dr Calderwood.
She met senior management and clinical staff to discuss patient safety and the impact of waiting times targets.
Scottish Government’s interim waiting time target states that 95% of patients must be seen within four hours.
Across Scotland, 93% of patients are seen within that timeframe, while Ninewells A&E consistently outperform the rest with a 98% and, at times 99%, hit rate.
The CMO was assured by the emergency department team that improved patient waiting times and consistent attainment of the 98% target is a byproduct of early senior review, decisionmaking and focused investigations.
Dr Calderwood stressed that concerns raised by whistle-blowers should continue to be investigated.
Dr Alan Cook, medical director of NHS Tayside’s Operational Unit, said: “Our clinical leaders are now going to focus on Dr Calderwood’s recommendations including improving the lines of communication between our emergency department and specialty colleagues.
“This is already happening with emergency department clinicians taking an active role in ensuring a better understanding of the department’s model of care with surgical and medical colleagues.”