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A&E performance

Weekly figures published.

A&E performance figures published yesterday show during the week ending January 31, 90.4 per cent of patients were seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours at ‘core’ A&E departments in Scotland.

This is more than six percentage points higher than the same week of 2015, when 84.1 per cent of patients were seen within four hours. There has also been a 54 per cent reduction in patients spending over eight hours in the department compared to this time last year. For 12 hours, the reduction is 44 per cent.

Over a 10-week period to January 31, the national combined four hour performance rate was 93.0 per cent - over 5 percentage points higher than the equivalent period last year. This is the strongest position Scotland has seen at this time of year since 2011.

In winter A&E performance can fluctuate as pressure on the service increases with January being a particularly demanding time for health boards.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said yesterday:

“Today’s figures show an increase in performance during the same week of 2015, which is testament to the dedication of staff working right across the NHS.

“Winter brings additional pressures and we know performance can fluctuate from week to week and also from hospital to hospital. The extra demands of winter have clearly impacted on performance during the week of these statistics. However, it is also true that A&E waiting times have consistently been better than last year.

“We have the strong fundamentals in place, record investment and increased staffing to help meet demand throughout the year and in particular through the winter period. We are also working closely with health boards to minimise any dips in performance and ensure there is a quick recovery.

“Nationally, our core accident and emergency waiting times have been better than elsewhere in the UK for the last nine months of published data from March to November 2015.

“The number of patients spending more than 12 hours in A&E has reduced by over two thirds in the last ten weeks compared to the equivalent period the year before. Recent analysis by the BBC showed Scotland has fewer patients spending over 12 hours in A&E than any other UK nation.

“However, I know there is still more to be done to retain and build on this performance, and to make sure that patients continue to receive the care they deserve.

“To meet additional demand, all health boards have winter resilience plans in place, which include increasing bed capacity and work to reduce delays in discharging patients from hospital.

“We have also invested an additional £10.7 million to help ease pressure on Scotland’s NHS throughout the winter months.”

During the four hour period patients will be clinically assessed and undergo tests and treatment, before subsequently being discharged or admitted to hospital.

Background

The full statistical publication is available on the ISD Scotland website: http://www.isdscotland.org/

Weekly A&E waiting time figures:

The publication of weekly A&E waiting time statistics for the week ending January 31, covers the emergency departments in Scotland which provide a 24 hour emergency medicine consultant led service.

The statistics relate to patients who were seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within 4, 8 and 12 hours.

The figures are also available on the NHS Performs website: http://www.nhsperforms.scot

Information on patient pathways through A&E was also published yesterday. More information on this quarterly publication is available here: http://www.isdscotland.org/

 

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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