Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, right, has condemned the Scottish Government over the ‘human cost’ of NHS failings.
It comes after new figures revealed that the number of Scots languishing on waiting lists for tests, appointments and treatments, has soared.
The SNP government unveiled a new set of targets to tackle waiting lists and help the NHS reboot after Covid in 2022.
Not one of these has been successfully met.
Data for the quarter ending 30 June 2024, now shows a staggering 864,366 – a record high figure – are now awaiting tests and procedures.
Shockingly, the number of Scots waiting more than a year for tests and treatment has hit almost 100,000 after rising by 28 per cent, compared to the quarter ending 30 June 2023.
The crisis in A&E continues to show little improvement with only 64.8 per cent of patients treated with the four-hour A&E access standard in the week ending 18th August – more than 3,000 Scots waited over eight hours.
In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde A&E waits improved for the week ending August 11th, with 75 per cent of patients being treated, admitted or transferred within four hours.
But performance only improved because the number of patients attending dwindled to 261, down from a high of 547 in February.
Jackie Baillie said: “It is simply unacceptable that a record 864,366 Scots are stuck in pain on waiting lists due to almost two decades of SNP incompetence.
“The fact is that the SNP’s failure has put lives at risk, undermined the very existence of our NHS and let down the people of Scotland.
“Warm words simply do not cut it anymore. Scots demand action to support our NHS, help staff and ensure patients get the treatment that they need when they need it.”
NHS waiting lists
|
|
Qtr ending 30/06/2023 |
Atr ending 30/06/2024 |
% change |
|
Diagnostics |
152,607 |
149,912 |
-1.77% |
|
Outpatients |
521,447 |
558,896 |
7.18% |
|
Inpatient |
149,643 |
155,558 |
3.95% |
|
Total |
823,697 |
864,366 |
4.94% |
Waits over 52 weeks
|
|
30-Jun-2023 |
30-Jun-2024 |
% change |
|
Diagnostics |
3,624 |
3,400 |
-6.18% |
|
Outpatients |
37,544 |
58,191 |
54.99% |
|
Inpatient |
36,437 |
37,972 |
4.21% |
|
Total |
77,605 |
99,563 |
28.29% |
Source: Diagnostics; Outpatient and Inpatient; New national targets to tackle long waits for planned care
Weekly A&E, w/e August 2024
Attendances
- There were 25,901 unplanned attendances at EDs in NHS Scotland.
Attendances of under 4 hours
- 16,793 (64.8%) of ED attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours (compared to 16,284 (65.1%) the previous week, and 16,607 (65.9%) weekly average for 2023).
Attendances of over 8 hours
- 3,012 (11.6%) patients spent more than 8 hours in an Emergency Department.
Attendances of over 12 hours
- 1,174 (4.5%) patients spent more than 12 hours in an Emergency Department.
Source: https://publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-work/acute-and-emergency-services/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/#section-2-