9,000 Scots waited more than 24 hours in A&E in first nine months of this year

Almost 9,000 Scots waited for more than 24 hours in A&E departments in the first nine months of this year, revealed by Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader. He also highlighted that an additional 200 patients had to endure waits exceeding two days. The concerning statistics were brought up during First Minister’s Questions where Sarwar expressed his dismay at the prolonged wait times in hospitals.

Sarwar pointed out that the number of patients waiting over 24 hours in A&E this year had surpassed the total for the entire previous year. He criticised the First Minister for downplaying the severity of the issue, calling attention to over 200 patients facing more than two days of wait time.

In response, John Swinney, representing the government, defended the investment made in the NHS, stating that tough decisions were taken to exceed the funding levels set by the Barnett formula. Swinney acknowledged the challenges the NHS is facing and issued apologies to those experiencing extended waiting times. However, Sarwar contended that the situation has deteriorated under Swinney’s leadership.

The recent UK Budget allocation is set to provide an extra £1.72 billion for Scotland’s NHS in the upcoming year. Sarwar urged for this funding to be utilised to reduce the lengthy waiting periods in hospitals. Swinney emphasised that further investment would be dependent on the government’s ability to pass its Budget, with SNP requiring support from another party due to the parliamentary composition.

Swinney called on Sarwar to engage constructively in the Budget negotiations rather than being a passive observer. The priorities for allocating resources to healthcare services will be outlined in the forthcoming Budget legislation to be introduced in December. The ongoing discussions and decisions will significantly impact the healthcare system in Scotland and the quality of care provided to patients in need of urgent medical attention.