Health chiefs in Forth Valley have insisted they are “well prepared” for a busy winter despite criticism from an MSP over local accident and emergency waiting times.
The latest data from Public Health Scotland for August 2024 revealed that 55 per cent of patients admitted to the emergency department in Forth Valley waited more than four hours to be seen, treated and admitted, discharged or transferred.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 patients admitted to A&E waited more than eight hours for the same measure, with 534 waiting more than 12 hours.
That 55 per cent figure was the lowest recorded for August across all of Scotland’s health boards – Lanarkshire being the next lowest at 59.2 per cent.
When broken down further, just 47.4 per cent of those attending A&E at Forth Valley Royal met the same four hour target.
The data prompted Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart to warn the region’s accident and emergency services face a “terrifying” winter.
Mr Stewart said: “NHS Forth Valley’s waiting times remain absolutely appalling. Given only 55 per cent of patients were seen during August, the prospect for patients and dedicated staff here during the winter months is terrifying.
“I dread to think what scenes we will see in A&E corridors in the coming weeks and months if the SNP do not get a grip of this situation, which could also put their immensely hardworking and dedicated frontline staff under unbearable pressure.
“Successive SNP health secretaries have left Scottish NHS A&E services in a state of permanent crisis and they have no positive vision to fix it. It is time the current SNP health secretary got himself out of the Holyrood bubble and accepted the scale of the crisis in our NHS.”
But an NHS Forth Valley spokesperson defended the planning in place to get through a busy winter period – and urged locals to make use of other services to take pressure off accident and emergency.
The spokesperson said: “Forth Valley Royal Hospital, like many hospitals across Scotland, continues to face capacity challenges and high levels of demand.
“However, patients with more serious illnesses and injuries continue to be prioritised and many patients undergo tests and start treatment in ED while they wait to be admitted to a hospital ward.
“People with a wide range of minor injuries can also be seen and treated within the Minor Injuries Unit at Stirling Health and Care Village where the majority of patients (98 per cent) are seen, treated and discharged within four hours.
“Staff and colleagues working in local health and care services across the area are doing everything possible to reduce delays and anyone who requires urgent health advice for something which isn’t life-threating can visit NHS Inform or call NHS 24 on 111 to get the right care as quickly as possible.
“Detailed plans have been developed to ensure local health and care services are well prepared for the busy winter period. This includes plans to increase staffing, free up inpatient beds and improve discharge arrangements.
“These plans will be closely monitored throughout the winter period to respond to manage demand and address any capacity issues as quickly as possible.”