Scottish A&E departments experience highest demand in four years

Emergency departments (EDs) in Scotland experienced their busiest December for four years

There were 130,848 attendances during December 2016, with 92.6% of patients seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

Scottish health secretary Shona Robison paid testament to the dedication of NHS staff.

‘The figures also show that our EDs continue to outperform other areas of the UK and have done so for the last 21 consecutive months of published statistics,’ she said.

Staffing and funding

Ms Robison said staffing had been increased over the period and £3 million had been made available for health boards to prepare for winter.

‘We know that a small number of sites are still facing particular challenges with demand and performance, and the government is working closely with those health boards to provide any additional support required.’

Early figures for January show 92.5% of patients were seen within four hours in Scottish EDs.

In November, the four-hour target was met 10% more often in Scotland than England and 15% more than Wales.

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