A&E performance

During January 2017, 91.8% of patients were seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours from Scotland’s A&E departments.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

“As we have seen throughout the year, A&E figures will fluctuate week-to-week and we are monitoring this closely to ensure no-one is waiting longer than absolutely necessary in our emergency departments.

“Our core A&Es have consistently out-performed those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and have done for the last 22 consecutive months of published statistics.

“Additionally, performance for the year to January 2017 is the highest since year ending January 2013.

“But we want to go further and continue to improve performance in Scotland. We are committed to long-term, sustainable change put in place in order to maintain high levels of performance during peaks and troughs of activity. We have put record investment and increased levels of staffing into our hospitals to achieve this – including an extra £3 million for health boards to support preparations over winter.

“We know that a small number of sites are still facing particular challenges with demand and performance, and the Government is working closely with those health boards to provide any additional support required.”

Background

Weekly A&E figures for week ending 26 February 2017 show 91.5% of patients were seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours from Scotland’s core A&E departments.

Scotland's core A&E performance in December 2016 was more than 12 percentage points higher than England and more than 15 percentage points higher than Wales.

Monthly A&E performance statistics include figures from all A&E services across Scotland. Of these, 30 are classed as ‘core’ emergency departments - larger A&E services that typically provide a 24 hour consultant led service. The core A&E performance for January 2017 was 90.8%.

Weekly statistics look at Scotland’s 30 core, 24 hour, consultant-led A&E sites only.

The full statistical publication is available on the ISD Scotland website.

The figures are also available on the NHS Performs website.