A&E WAITING TIMES: JOHNSTONE QUESTIONS E-R-I SLIPPAGE
Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, is questioning the latest waiting time figures for Accident and Emergency departments as they show that the proportion of people waiting more than four hours to be seen at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary has fallen to 10 per cent below the national target.
Health bosses are supposed to ensure that 98 per cent of people who attend A&E are seen within four hours.
According to the latest weekly statistics, only 88.3 per cent of people were seen within 4 hours at ERI A&E. This is a drop from 93.8 per cent the previous week and 93.7 per cent when weekly figures began being published in February. It is also lower than the current Scottish average of 94.6 per cent and the Lothian health board average of 90.9 per cent.
Alison Johnstone MSP said:
"We need to understand the reasons for this. Is it due to staff shortages or lack of capacity, or do the figures tell us that other parts of the health service, like GP practices, are nearing crisis? We also need to invest properly in the integration of health and social care if we are ever to achieve these targets."
Emergency Department Activity (NHS Performs)
Health chiefs apologise for long A&E waiting times at Royal Infirmary (STV, May 2014)