Six in ten A&E patients waited for more than four hours at a Scottish health board in the first week of October.

Just 41% of patients at Forth Valley Royal Hospital were seen, and then admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour standard in the seven days up to 10^th October.

This is the lowest level on record since weekly figures began and only the second time since 2015 that performance at a major hospital has dropped below 50%.

Across Scotland the figure was 71.3%, the same as the previous week.

Dr John Thomson, Vice President (Scotland) of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, has previously said the four-hour standard is being “ignored”.

Grampian, Lanarkshire and Borders health boards have now requested assistance from the armed forces as they face additional pressures.

The number of attendances at Forth Valley Royal Hospital emergency department remains below those seen in 2019 before the pandemic.

But the proportion being seen within the waiting times standard has fallen consistently since the start of 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A spokesperson for the health board said: “Patients with more serious illnesses and injuries continue to be prioritised and many patients will undergo further diagnostic tests and start their treatment while they are waiting in the emergency department to be admitted to a ward.

“A wide range of actions have been taken in recent weeks to help increase capacity across local health and care services. This includes opening additional inpatient beds and treatments areas, increasing AHP cover at weekends to support discharges and expanding our Hospital at Home service.

“Extensive efforts are also being made with our partners to help reduce delays for the many patients who are ready to leave hospital but are unable to be discharged as they require either a package of care at home or to be transferred to a local care home.”

The number of patients who are delayed in hospital unnecessarily reached pre-pandemic levels in August, the last month for which figures are available.

Earlier this month, Health and Social Care Secretary Humza Yousaf announced measures to improve hospital discharge processes and boost care at home provision.

The health board has previously faced controversy over bullying in the Forth Valley Royal emergency department.

An independent review found staff were afraid to speak out about concerns over patient care.

 

Read more: Review finds staff at A&E afraid to speak out; A&E call-ahead reforms having “no impact”; Emergency medics “very open” to new A&E target

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.