A and E departments in Stirling and Clackmannanshire are failing to meet the 95% target to ensure that patients are treated within 4 hours of arriving in A and E.
In NHS Forth Valley only 92.8% of A and E patients were seen within the 4 hour time limit resulting in its performance being ranked third worst in Scotland in September.
There were more A&E attendances across Scotland (142,622) in September 2014 than in any September since comparable reporting began in 2007. Forth Valley A and E admittances increased from 2,255 in August to 2310 in September.
On average 198 people are treated in A and E departments across Scotland.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has called on the Scottish Government to help equip health boards with the resources to provide enough A and E nurses and doctors. Murdo has also called on the Scottish Government to re-evaluate its strategy for ensuring A and E departments aren’t misused by those who could be treated elsewhere. With around 70 per cent of patients returning home requiring no further hospital care, it appears that too many people are needlessly attending A&E.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said;
“Despite The Scottish Government’s downgrading of A and E targets (from 98% to 95%) we still have five health boards, including Forth Valley, failing to meet this goal.
“Only NHS Lanarkshire and Glasgow have a worse record in September than Forth Valley and the Scottish Government must realise that without the right resources A and E departments can’t cope with the sheer volume of patients.
“A and E wards in September were at their busiest since 2007 and it is clear that the Scottish Government’s strategy to reduce A and E attendance needs reversing.
“With a vast majority of patients being sent home from A&E requiring no further hospital treatment that certainly suggests the service is being misused by thousands.
“You can’t lambast people for thinking they need to go to casualty, but much more needs to be done to ensure they know there are alternatives to A&E.
“If we can divert needless cases away from A&E, that would allow the under pressure staff to get on and help those who genuinely need it.”