Scottish Government ‘working intensely’ as A&E faces ‘sustained pressure’

The Scottish Government is “working intensely” to improve Scotland’s emergency departments, the health secretary has said as A&E faces “sustained pressure”.

Figures released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday show just 60.1% of patients were seen and subsequently discharged, admitted or transferred within four hours in the week to December 15 – a slight improvement from 59.6% the previous week.

The Scottish Government aims for the figure to be at 95%.

In the same week, 1,619 people waited more than 12 hours in A&E – 6.3% of all attendances – down from 1,814 the previous week.

Some 3,657 – 14.3% – waited longer than eight hours, a drop from 3,911.

The figures come after opposition parties accused the Government of presiding over a “permanent crisis” in the NHS, with both Labour and the Tories suggesting long waits in A&E have contributed to at least 2,000 deaths.

Citing research from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which says that there will be one additional death for every 72 patients who wait between eight and 12 hours in A&E, the Tories claimed there could have been a “shocking” 2,181 excess deaths this year.

The Conservatives said they based their calculations on the 226,328 patients who waited more than eight hours in the emergency room for treatment in 2024.

Meanwhile, Labour claimed 147,223 Scots had waited more than eight hours to be seen in A&E and then be admitted, transferred or discharged over the period January to October this year – with the party calculating this would equate to as many as 2,045 excess deaths.

Responding to Tuesday’s figures, health secretary Neil Gray said: “This winter, a record number of NHS 24 call handlers will be available to direct people to the most appropriate care, helping reduce unnecessary A&E attendances.

“To help relieve pressure on services, I would ask people to consider whether their condition is an emergency before going to A&E.

“For non-emergencies, NHS 24 can be contacted on 111, but for life-threatening emergencies, always call 999.

“Local GPs and pharmacies will be closed over the public holidays, so people should also ensure that they have the prescriptions they need.

“Services continue to face sustained pressure – an issue which is not unique to Scotland. However, performance is not at the level that we wish to see and we are working intensely with health boards to drive improvements.

“The Scottish Government’s Budget will provide record funding to our NHS – which will transform patients’ experiences and everyone working on the front line.

“I am asking Parliament to unite and back this record investment.”