The SNP Government has been urged to “end the anxious wait” for emergency care after at least 69,000 Scots waited more than an hour to be assessed in A&E.
Figures uncovered by Scottish Labour found more than 20,000 Scots were left in the lurch in NHS Lothian hospitals between January and June this year and nearly 17,900 in NHS Greater Glasgow.
Triage is the key stage where NHS staff assess the urgency of a patient’s case so that those with serious conditions can be quickly seen.
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s Health spokeswoman, said: “For patients with painful or deteriorating conditions, every minute left anxiously waiting can feel like hours.
“This SNP Government must reduce triage times so those with serious conditions can be seen quickly.
“The UK Labour Budget has delivered a record settlement for Scotland including £789million of health-related funding this year and an additional £1.72billion for health and social care next year, but it’s up to this SNP government to spend it wisely.
“Scottish Labour will invest in frontline services to reduce NHS waiting times and ensure patients get the treatment they need.”
Dr Fiona Hunter, Vice Chair of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Scotland, said: “for people who are gravely ill or are in a life-threatening situation initial triage will, in most cases, have been started by paramedics before they get to the hospital, with the Emergency Department put on alert to await the patient’s arrival for an immediate further assessment.
“For less urgent cases our guidance is that patients should be assessed within quarter of an hour. They will then be prioritised in order of clinical need.
“The figures obtained via this FOI are concerning. During an extended wait for assessment it is possible that people’s conditions may deteriorate; they can be left in pain or feeling unwell – and in some cases those who need medical attention can become frustrated and leave, potentially leading to more serious issues later.
“Long waits for triage are yet another indicator of a system which is not functioning as it should. Significant investment across the health service in Scotland, including for Urgent and Emergency care, is desperately needed to ensure patients get the standard of care they deserve and that our members want to provide.”
Long waiting times in A&E wards have become standard for many patients as the health service continues to recover from the impact of the covid pandemic.
Neil Gray, the Health Secretary, has previously denied the NHS in Scotland is in crisis after waiting times hit an all-time high earlier this year, while a third of people attending A&E are waiting more than four hours to be seen.
The British Medical Association in Scotland has described the NHS as being in “permanent crisis”.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Figures show more than 524,000 people across 12 boards were seen in under an hour. Whilst the Scottish Government does not want anyone to wait longer for emergency triage than they should, we are working closely with NHS Boards to reduce wait times.
“Scotland’s core A&E departments have been the best performing in the UK for the last eight years and this year’s Budget provides more than £19.5 billion for health and social care and an extra £500 million for frontline boards.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here