Highest number of A&E patients waiting 12 hours or more since January

THE number of patients spending 12 hours or more in accident and emergency has reached the highest total since the end of January, new waiting times figures show.

The figures have been described as “atrocious” by the Scottish Tories.

Official data revealed that in the week ending April 7 a total of 1,723 people spent half a day or more waiting for help in A&E.

That is above the weekly average of 1,112 recorded during 2023, and is the highest total since the week ending January 28.

Public Health Scotland data showed that 62.1% of the 25,768 people who went to A&E in the first week of April were either admitted, transferred or discharged within fours hours.

That is down slightly from the 62.6% recorded the previous week, and continues to be well below the Scottish Government target of having 95% of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

Over the week ending April 4, there were 9,756 patients who spent more than four hours in A&E, with this including 3,627 who were there for eight hours or more, as well as the 1,723 who waited 12 hours or more.

The Scottish Government said the long weekend at Easter had resulted in “increased numbers” of patients in A&E, as well as fewer patients being discharged from hospital and higher levels of staff absences.

With the government accepting “waiting times are longer than we want them to be for too many patients”, opposition politicians demanded urgent action from Health Secretary Neil Gray on the matter.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We know that the health service remains under sustained pressure and waiting times are longer than we want them to be for too many patients.

“We continue to work collaboratively with health boards to develop services, support sustained improvement and reduce A&E waiting times.”