Lowest number of admissions in a year help A&E times improve
A slight improvement in accident and emergency waiting times is more to do with a reduction in admissions than SNP ingenuity, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
Figures released today have shown 85.8 per cent of patients were seen to within the target four hours at casualty departments.
And while that’s up from 77.9 per cent the previous week – which was a record low – one in five patients at many hospitals are still waiting too long.
Health secretary Shona Robison described the improvement as a “really significant achievement” for the SNP.
However, the ISD Scotland statistics also revealed 2397 fewer people attended A&E last in comparison to the previous week, easing the strain on units considerably.
In the week to January 14 there were 22,883 attendances, the lowest number in almost a year. That compares to 25,280 for the seven days before.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said:
“Although the slight improvement is welcome, there are still hospitals where one in five patients are waiting more than four hours.
“The fact 2400 fewer people have attended casualty in the last week appears to have eased the strain somewhat.
“But the SNP shouldn’t pat itself on the back too hard.
“Its disastrous mismanagement of the NHS has forced thousands to suffer this winter, and voters will not forget that negligence in a hurry.”