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MSPs question A&E waiting time target | MSPs question A&E waiting time target |
(25 days later) | |
MSPs have questioned whether a key target for Accident and Emergency (A&E) waiting times in Scotland is "reasonable or achievable". | MSPs have questioned whether a key target for Accident and Emergency (A&E) waiting times in Scotland is "reasonable or achievable". |
NHS boards are supposed to see then admit, transfer or discharge 95% of patients attending at A&E units within four hours. | |
In September the target was met for only 93.5% of patients. | In September the target was met for only 93.5% of patients. |
Members of the public audit committee at Holyrood have asked ministers to reconsider the national standard. | Members of the public audit committee at Holyrood have asked ministers to reconsider the national standard. |
The Scottish government said it was continuing efforts to reduce waiting times. | The Scottish government said it was continuing efforts to reduce waiting times. |
It has also announced an additional £10m to help health boards cope with extra pressure during the winter months and to tackle the issue of delayed discharge. | It has also announced an additional £10m to help health boards cope with extra pressure during the winter months and to tackle the issue of delayed discharge. |
Clinical need | Clinical need |
Figures for the year ending September, showed that an interim annual target for 95% of people to wait no more than four hours from their arrival at A&E was also missed. | Figures for the year ending September, showed that an interim annual target for 95% of people to wait no more than four hours from their arrival at A&E was also missed. |
The figure achieved across Scotland was 93.4%, no change from when the target was introduced in April 2013. | The figure achieved across Scotland was 93.4%, no change from when the target was introduced in April 2013. |
A report by the committee highlighted that some patients may need to stay in A&E departments for longer than four hours for clinical reasons. | A report by the committee highlighted that some patients may need to stay in A&E departments for longer than four hours for clinical reasons. |
Convener Hugh Henry said: "To have five of the 14 health boards failing to meet the interim 95% target on time is disappointing to say the least, especially when only three NHS boards are meeting the 98% standard set by the Scottish government. | Convener Hugh Henry said: "To have five of the 14 health boards failing to meet the interim 95% target on time is disappointing to say the least, especially when only three NHS boards are meeting the 98% standard set by the Scottish government. |
"However, there is always a clinical need to balance speed of care with quality of care and we agree with the AGS (Auditor General Scotland) that waiting times for an A&E department can be an important indicator of pressure on the health system as a whole. | "However, there is always a clinical need to balance speed of care with quality of care and we agree with the AGS (Auditor General Scotland) that waiting times for an A&E department can be an important indicator of pressure on the health system as a whole. |
"Against this backdrop, and with the majority of boards failing to meet the set standard, we question whether that standard remains reasonable or achievable." | "Against this backdrop, and with the majority of boards failing to meet the set standard, we question whether that standard remains reasonable or achievable." |
Committee members welcomed additional funding of £27m to help health boards address the deterioration in A&E performance. | Committee members welcomed additional funding of £27m to help health boards address the deterioration in A&E performance. |
Their report highlighted the need for accurate information on A&E referrals to tackle the problem of people turning up at A&E departments unnecessarily. | Their report highlighted the need for accurate information on A&E referrals to tackle the problem of people turning up at A&E departments unnecessarily. |
Seasonal pressures | Seasonal pressures |
Mr Henry added: "NHS boards need to better understand why people are coming to A&E, when patients could be redirected to other areas of the health service and treated just as effectively. | Mr Henry added: "NHS boards need to better understand why people are coming to A&E, when patients could be redirected to other areas of the health service and treated just as effectively. |
"Some boards are doing great work in this area and we know the Scottish government is supporting this. | "Some boards are doing great work in this area and we know the Scottish government is supporting this. |
"However, whether other services are available when they are needed, and whether people know enough about the alternatives to attending A&E, needs to be examined further." | "However, whether other services are available when they are needed, and whether people know enough about the alternatives to attending A&E, needs to be examined further." |
He added: "We have called on the Scottish government to take action to increase understanding in this area and improve the robustness of data collection. | He added: "We have called on the Scottish government to take action to increase understanding in this area and improve the robustness of data collection. |
"Only in understanding the problem can more appropriate action be taken to address it." | "Only in understanding the problem can more appropriate action be taken to address it." |
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We want to ensure that people are treated as quickly as possible in our A&Es and our unscheduled care action plan has already delivered a significant reduction in patients waiting long periods in A&E, and fewer than 1% of all patients waited longer than 8 hours in the most recent statistics. | A Scottish government spokesman said: "We want to ensure that people are treated as quickly as possible in our A&Es and our unscheduled care action plan has already delivered a significant reduction in patients waiting long periods in A&E, and fewer than 1% of all patients waited longer than 8 hours in the most recent statistics. |
"Nevertheless, we will continue to strive to reduce this further and improve the experiences of people attending A&E. | "Nevertheless, we will continue to strive to reduce this further and improve the experiences of people attending A&E. |
"We have made an additional £10m available to health boards to assist with seasonal pressures over winter and to tackle the key issue of delayed discharge. The Winter Resilience Fund comes on top of an £18.2m investment by the Scottish government to help ease the pressure on Scotland's NHS over the winter months." | "We have made an additional £10m available to health boards to assist with seasonal pressures over winter and to tackle the key issue of delayed discharge. The Winter Resilience Fund comes on top of an £18.2m investment by the Scottish government to help ease the pressure on Scotland's NHS over the winter months." |
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