Scottish Executive promises to tackle A&E waits
The Scottish Health Minister has promised that the Executive will take action to reduce the length of time patients have to wait in A&E.
His comments come after the publication of the latest annual survey of waiting times found that the situation had worsened since last year.
Compared to 2003, there was an eight per cent rise in the number of patients attending A&E departments and though the results for triage – the initial criticality assessment – held up well, less seriously ill patients had to wait longer to see a doctor.
Those who were walking wounded waited an average of 46 minutes- compared to between 30 and 40 last year. 75 per cent of the walking wounded were seen by a doctor within 90 minutes, down on last year’s results.
Responding to the statistics, Malcolm Chisholm said long waits were “completely unacceptable”.
Mr Chisholm announced an extra £5 million of funding for the Centre for Change and Innovation (CCI) to tackle the problem, adding: “We are already working with clinicians and managers to address fundamental problems at national, regional and local level and CCI will shortly appoint a programme manager to lead this work.
“I want now to see that translated into action on the ground so that staff get the support they need.
“Nurses, doctors and other key accident and emergency workers face huge and unpredictable pressures on a daily basis. As Health Minister, I have often been privileged to see at first hand the magnificent work they do for the people of Scotland.”
On longer term waits, Mr Chisholm argued that Scotland is still on track to meet the maximum six month waiting guarantee by the end of 2005.
Thursday’s figures show that the existing nine month guarantee is being met, but 6161 patients are waiting more than sixth months, lower than the 9974 at the same time last year but up on the last quarter.
Total waiting lists, however, remain almost identical to last year, and there has been a seven per cent rise in the number waiting without a guarantee.
Defending the results, Mr Chisholm said: “All along we have said that there is a trade off for making sure everyone is treated inside nine months is that others may have to wait a few days longer.
“The clear priority of the Scottish Executive and the Scottish people is to tackle the misery of those facing the longest waits. That’s our priority and we’re delivering on it.
“However, I am in no way complacent and clearly there is a great deal we need to do particularly in outpatients.
“CCI is tackling this head on with a number of initiatives working with local clinical teams in key pressure areas like dermatology, ENT, orthopaedics and better booking systems.”
The figures came into sharp criticism from the Scottish National Party. Shadow Health Minister Shona Robison said: “For years, we have heard successive Labour Health Ministers promise to reduce waiting times in the Health Service. For years, we have watched as they have gone up. Now waiting times in A and E are on the rise.
“Despite this, listening to Malcolm Chisholm today, you would not think he understood the urgency required. He is taking his all too familiar laissez faire approach and talks of taking the next three years to work out what to do. That’s not good enough.
