Scotland only UK nation to improve A&E performance

Performance against waiting times targets in Scottish hospitals has improved since the same time last year, with 94.6 per cent of patients were seen and transferred or discharged within four hours at core departments during the week ending November 29.

With NHS England figures also released today, this makes Scotland the only UK nation to see an improvement compared to the same period last year, but is short of the Scottish Government’s interim 95 per cent target.

Last year NHS England saw 93.7 per cent treated in four hours, compared to 92.3 in the latest figures. Scotland’s stats were 91.8 per cent last year, which has up moved to 94.7 per cent seen within the timescale in the latest figures.

Welsh A&E departments treated 83.7 per cent of patients, while Northern Ireland’s A&E treated only 77 per cent within four hours in the same week.

Health secretary Shona Robison said the figures were “reassuring” as the NHS heads into a difficult winter period.

“Our winter guidance for boards was also issued two months earlier this year compared to previous years, and boards are continuing to progress with our six essential actions which aim to minimise long waits in A&E and assessment units by improving patient flow throughout all areas of the hospital and community.

“We want to see long-term, sustainable change put in place in order to maintain a high level of performance during peaks and troughs of demand,” she said.