Scottish Labour has reiterated calls for Health Secretary to go as NHS waiting lists
hit another record high.
By the end of the quarter ending September 30, a staggering
828,398 Scots were stuck on NHS waiting lists – more than one in
every seven Scots.
These waiting lists are at an all-time high after rising by
11,790 since the last quarter and by 182,448 since 2021.
The number of people facing long waits also rose again, despite
the SNP government’s targets to eradicate them, with 80,673
people now stuck waiting more than a year – an extra 3,572 people
compared to the previous quarter.
Other statistics published this morning have shown Scotland’s
A&E services are also on the brink of disaster as winter
looms.
The statistics show that for the week ending 19 November only
63.5% of A&E attendances were seen within four hours –
meaning well over a third of attendees waited longer than the
four hour target.
Some 3,234 patients spent more than 8 hours in an A&E with
1,370 (5.5%) patients waiting over half a day to be seen.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Health spokesperson said “Our NHS is on
the brink of disaster as we head into winter – but we are stuck
with a lame duck Health Secretary.
“Waiting lists are at an all time high, with thousands of Scots
being left to suffer for over a year waiting for treatment and
the SNP seem incapable of doing anything about it.
“Lives are already being put at risk by dangerously overburdened
A&Es, which will only get worse as the temperatures drop.
“It is shameful that is still clinging on to
his job and drawing his Ministerial salary despite not only lying
to the public but also failing to deal with the crisis in our
NHS.
“Humza Yousaf must do the right thing and sack so we can get a new Health
Secretary in post to drive down waiting lists and protect our NHS
this winter.
“Scottish Labour has repeatedly called for action to ease
pressure on hospitals by tackling delayed discharge, supporting
NHS staff, and stopping waiting lists spiralling with a
comprehensive catch-up plan.”
ENDS
Notes
|
|
Qtr ending 30/09/2021
|
Qtr ending 30/06/2023
|
Qtr ending 30/09/2023
|
% change from last qtr
|
|
Diagnostics
|
125,557
|
152,606
|
151,651
|
-0.63%
|
|
Outpatients
|
415,435
|
514,387
|
525,654
|
2.19%
|
|
Inpatient
|
104,958
|
149,615
|
151,093
|
0.99%
|
|
Total
|
645,950
|
816,608
|
828,398
|
1.44%
|
|
Waits over 52 weeks
|
|
|
|
|
|
31-Dec-2019
|
30-Jun-2023
|
30-Sep-2023
|
% change
|
|
Diagnostics
|
N/A
|
3,624
|
3,628
|
0.11%
|
|
Outpatients
|
28,756
|
36,943
|
40,052
|
8.42%
|
|
Inpatient
|
1,297
|
36,534
|
36,993
|
1.26%
|
|
Total
|
30,053
|
77,101
|
80,673
|
4.63%
|
Source: Diagnostics; Inpatient and
Outpatient
A&E During week ending 19 November 2023
- Attendances: There were 24,766 unplanned attendances at EDs
in NHSScotland.
- Attendances of under 4 hours: 15,727 (63.5%) of ED
attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission,
transfer or discharge within 4 hours.
- Attendances of over 8 hours: 3,234 (13.1%) patients spent
more than 8 hours in an Emergency Department.
- Attendances of over 12 hours: 1,370 (5.5%) patients spent
more than 12 hours in an Emergency Department.
https://publichealthscotland.scot/data-and-intelligence/ae-activity/#section-2-2
