BMJ 2014;348:g3193 doi: 10.1136/bmj.g3193 (Published 8 May 2014)
Page 1 of 1
News
NEWS Scottish emergency unit waiting times are lengthening Bryan Christie Edinburgh
The number of patients waiting longer than four hours to be treated in hospital emergency departments in Scotland has almost trebled in recent years.
A review carried out by Audit Scotland found that around 104 000 patients waited longer than four hours in 2012-13, up from 36 000 in 2008-9. Total attendances at Scotland’s 31 emergency departments fell slightly over this period, but there is some evidence that increasing numbers of elderly patients and people with more serious conditions are being seen.1 Performance against the four hour target was found to vary considerably across different hospitals, and the report recommends that the Scottish government should encourage good practice to be shared on initiatives that could help reduce delays. It says that the proportion of patients seen within four hours fell from 97.2% in December 2009 to 93.5% in December 2013.
The most common reasons for delay were having to wait for a hospital bed, for a first clinical assessment, and to see a specialist. The report also found that numbers of admissions from the emergency department to a ward rose in the 10 minutes before the four hour deadline would be breached. The median waiting time increased from 99 to 126 minutes.
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Audit Scotland said that steps were being taken to tackle the causes of the delays but that it is still too early to comment on the effects of an unscheduled care action plan that was launched in 2013. Caroline Gardner, Scotland’s auditor general, said, “Delays in A&E [accident and emergency departments] can be a sign of pressure across health and social care. It is important that the Scottish government and NHS boards build on their whole-system work and continue to reduce delays for A&E patients.”
Nikki Thompson, who chairs the BMA’s Scottish Consultants Committee, said that the report shows the extreme pressures being faced by emergency departments: “Workforce shortages and high vacancy rates are a significant contributing factor. As a result, medical staff are working under considerable strain to try to maintain high quality care in an overstretched system. Clearly this is not sustainable.” 1
Audit Scotland. Accident and emergency waiting times performance update. 8 May 2014. www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/media/article.php?id=260.
Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g3193 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2014
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
Page 1 of 1
News
NEWS Scottish emergency unit waiting times are lengthening Bryan Christie Edinburgh
The number of patients waiting longer than four hours to be treated in hospital emergency departments in Scotland has almost trebled in recent years.
A review carried out by Audit Scotland found that around 104 000 patients waited longer than four hours in 2012-13, up from 36 000 in 2008-9. Total attendances at Scotland’s 31 emergency departments fell slightly over this period, but there is some evidence that increasing numbers of elderly patients and people with more serious conditions are being seen.1 Performance against the four hour target was found to vary considerably across different hospitals, and the report recommends that the Scottish government should encourage good practice to be shared on initiatives that could help reduce delays. It says that the proportion of patients seen within four hours fell from 97.2% in December 2009 to 93.5% in December 2013.
The most common reasons for delay were having to wait for a hospital bed, for a first clinical assessment, and to see a specialist. The report also found that numbers of admissions from the emergency department to a ward rose in the 10 minutes before the four hour deadline would be breached. The median waiting time increased from 99 to 126 minutes.
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Audit Scotland said that steps were being taken to tackle the causes of the delays but that it is still too early to comment on the effects of an unscheduled care action plan that was launched in 2013. Caroline Gardner, Scotland’s auditor general, said, “Delays in A&E [accident and emergency departments] can be a sign of pressure across health and social care. It is important that the Scottish government and NHS boards build on their whole-system work and continue to reduce delays for A&E patients.”
Nikki Thompson, who chairs the BMA’s Scottish Consultants Committee, said that the report shows the extreme pressures being faced by emergency departments: “Workforce shortages and high vacancy rates are a significant contributing factor. As a result, medical staff are working under considerable strain to try to maintain high quality care in an overstretched system. Clearly this is not sustainable.” 1
Audit Scotland. Accident and emergency waiting times performance update. 8 May 2014. www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/media/article.php?id=260.
Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g3193 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2014
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
