By Lucy Ashton
A&E departments in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – unfortunately the Vale of Leven and Golden Jubilee hospitals don’t even have one – are stuck in a permanent state of crisis, Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton has warned today as hundreds face dangerously long waits.
New Public Health Scotland figures show that in the week ending 14 July 2024, almost 1 in 3 Scots waited more than the recommended 4 hours to be seen and admitted, transferred and discharged.
In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, a staggering 791 people had to wait more than eight hours, while a shocking 264 people were stranded for more than half a day.
Compared with the same point in 2019, waits over 8 hours in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde were almost 30 times higher.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has warned that for every 72 patients that waited 8-12 hours from their time of arrival in Emergency Departments, there would be an ‘extra’ or excess death.
A&E performance in Scotland has been well below target for years now, which Baillie has warned is “piling pressure on staff and putting patients at risk”.
Compared with the same point in 2019, three times as many Scots waited longer than the target four hours and 14 times as many Scots waited over eight hours to be treated in A&E.
Back then, just 62 patients waited over half a day, but this year the figure was almost 20 times as many.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said “On the SNP’s watch, Scotland’s A&E services are in a state of permanent crisis.
“Every week lives are being put at risk with thousands of patients being left waiting hours on end for urgent care.
“Services are at breaking point, piling pressure on staff and putting patients at risk.
“The SNP must get a grip of this crisis and bring A&E performance back up to standard – starting by tackling delayed discharge and properly supporting fantastic NHS staff.”
NHS Scotland A&E waits, week ending 14 July 2024
- Attendances: There were 25,118 unplanned attendances at EDs in NHSScotland (compared to 24,921 the previous week).
- Attendances of under 4 hours: 16,449 (65.5%) of ED attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours (compared to 16,614 (66.7%) the previous week).
- Attendances of over 8 hours: 2,894 (11.5%) patients spent more than 8 hours in an Emergency Department.
- Attendances of over 12 hours: 1,190 (4.7%) patients spent more than 12 hours in an Emergency Department.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde A&E waiting times compared to the week ending 14th July 2019.
|
Week ending |
Number of Attendances |
Compliance with 4-hour standard |
Waits over 4 hours |
Waits over 8 hours |
Waits over 12 hours |
|
14/07/2019 |
6982 |
6078 |
904 |
27 |
1 |
|
14/07/2024 |
6302 |
3862 |
2440 |
791 |
264 |
|
% change |
-10% |
-36% |
170% |
2830% |
26300% |
The RCEM has warned that for every 72 patients that waited 8-12 hours from their time of arrival in Emergency Departments, there would be an ‘extra’ or excess death.
Top picture: The RAH in Paisley, which serves as an A&E hospital for the Dumbarton constituency.