‘Frequent flier’ turned up at A&E 200 times in a year

● Repeat visitors affecting staff at every health board

A single patient turned up 200 times at an A&E department in one year, according to an emergency medicine consultant.

Dr David Chung of Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock said the person was among the “frequent fliers” who burden overstretched staff.

He said: “They know A&E is always open and somewhere they can go.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Scotland’s biggest health board, was so worried about the issue that it ordered a study of all A&E admissions over a year to gauge the scale.

The figures show that, in the 12 months to April, 735 patients attended either an emergency department or a minor injury unit on at least ten occasions.

Typically some of the most vulnerable in society, repeat attenders are often looking more for human contact than emergency treatment but their simple need for someone to talk to is putting a strain on an overstretched NHS.

Experts say every health board in Scotland is affected by the problem of unnecessary repeat attendances by people, including those with mental health and drug problems, who are regulars at A&E when often their needs would be better dealt with by GPS or social services.

Dr Chung, who is also vicepresident of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (Scotland), said: “I would say the repeat attenders are often the ones leading chaotic lifestyles. Now that might be homelessness or drug issues, but we also know that people in this group are also more likely to have suffered adverse childhood experiences.

“They know A&E is always open and somewhere they can go, but what is critical is what happens next when we establish they are not in need of emergency treatment. These people might be known to health and social care, charities or they might be known to the police and it is about making sure everyone works together to get them on the right track.”

There are a number of initiatives under way to try to deal with repeat visitors.

NHS Lothian has a specialist team that identifies frequent attenders and meets them to discuss their healthcare and form a plan to reduce the number of trips to emergency departments.

NHS Fife has joined forces with housing charity Shelter to have two advisers based at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital to help homeless people who turn up at A&E.