A&E performance

Performance figures published today show that 94.5 per cent of patients in core A&E departments were seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged with four hours during the week ending August 9.

Today’s figures show a rise of 8.4 percentage points since weekly reporting began in February.

Health Minister Shona Robison thanked NHS staff for their continued hard work over the summer months.

She said:

“As we have seen previously, weekly A&E performance will fluctuate, however it is testament to the hard work of NHS staff that today’s figures are 8.4 percentage points higher than when weekly reporting began in February.

“Historically we tend to see a slight dip in performance at the start of August with new junior doctors coming on board. However, it is promising to see that performance this week is 1.8 percentage points higher than the same week of 2014 when performance was at 92.7 per cent.

“We are working closely with health boards to reduce any dip in performance during the annual junior doctor changeover period, and have been clear with boards that they should have plans in place to ensure safe and effective services during this time.

“As is reflected in performance figures, health boards are continuing to progress with our six essential actions which aim to minimise long waits in A&E and assessment units by improving patient flow throughout all areas of the hospital and community.

“Our focus now is to maintain this improving trend in performance going forward – particularly as we head towards winter. We want to see long-term, sustainable change put in place in order to maintain this high level of performance during peaks and troughs of demand.

“In order to achieve this we have put record funding and staffing in place, and have shown our commitment to tackling delayed discharge through our £100 million investment, as well as through the on-going integration of health and social care. We have also issued winter guidance to health boards almost two months earlier than last year, to ensure they build in optimum levels of resilience capacity in preparation for winter.”