The ensuing crisis surrounding A and E departments in Scotland was confirmed this week when updated statistics showed that 184 patients waited over 8 hours to be seen in NHS Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside.
Yesterday, the First Minister and the Health Secretary apologised for backlogs and delays over the Christmas and New Year period and today’s statistics detail just how bad it has gotten.
In NHS Forth Valley in the final week of the year, just 57.3 per cent of accident and emergency patients were seen on time and a shocking 35 patients had to wait over 12 hours.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“These figures underline the serious pressures the NHS is facing right now. Everyone accepts that the winter is one of the toughest and busiest periods for health boards but these figures are unacceptable.
“Waiting over 8 hours to be seen is bad enough but 35 patients had to endure a wait of longer than 12 hours in NHS Forth Valley and immediate improvements must be seen.
“It’s all very well for Nicola Sturgeon and Shona Robison to apologise but desperate patients want action rather than empty words.
“Under the SNP, healthcare performance and waiting times have continually slipped and patients are fed up with the constant excuses, and I would hope that health boards in Mid-Scotland and Fife are properly supported to mitigate this crisis.”