A&E waiting times hit worst level yet

A&E performance on waiting times hit their lowest figure on record in December, official results have shown.

The most recent monthly statistics showed 85.1 per cent of the 141,988 patients attending A&E services were admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour target.

This is the lowest since the Scottish Government’s target of 95 per cent was set in 2007.

A total of 3,301 (2.5 per cent) patients waited for more than eight hours, while 817 (0.6 per cent) waited for more than 12.

However, weekly A&E figures continue to show an improvement in waiting time performance.

For emergency departments for the week ending January 28, 89.7 per cent of patients were seen within the target time. This is up for the third week running from a low of 77 per cent but down from 92.5 per cent in the same period last year.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “It is positive news that, for the third week in a row, A&E waiting times are improving across Scotland and nine out of ten people were admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours.

“Flu-like illness has hit hospitals hard this winter and the flu rate is still four times higher than the same period last year.

“I’d urge anyone eligible for the free flu vaccine to take advantage as it’s quick, easy and the best protection against flu.”