Concerns Raised Over Forth Valley A&E Waiting Times: What’s Going Wrong?
SERIOUS concerns are being raised over A&E waiting times at NHS Forth Valley as less than half of patients were seen within the four-hour target. MSP Alex Rowley has written to the cabinet secretary for health over the matter, after figures from Public Health Scotland showed that on the week ending July 2, only 47.6 per cent of people were seen within the four-hour target.
Less than a quarter, 23.7 per cent, of people waited more than eight hours at Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s emergency department that week and around a tenth waited more than 12 hours.
Repeated Calls for Action
The figure placed NHS Forth Valley at the bottom of the list of boards for that week while 48.6 per cent of people were seen within four hours the week before. Repeated calls for action have been made in recent years as the health board struggles to meet the Scottish Government’s target of 95 per cent of people needing to be seen, admitted, discharged, or transferred.
Pressure on Health Services
Mr. Rowley said there is enormous pressure on health and social care services and blamed the Scottish Government for not providing enough support to alleviate pressures. He emphasized the need for the government to take action to address the long waiting times and ensure better healthcare access for the community.
Efforts to Improve Capacity
Capacity challenges are at the heart of the issue, according to NHS Forth Valley, with seriously ill patients requiring admission for treatment alongside high numbers of discharge delays. Efforts are being made to reduce the number of patients experiencing long waits and free up capacity in health and care services across Forth Valley.
In conclusion, the situation at NHS Forth Valley’s A&E department highlights the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare providers in meeting the needs of patients in a timely manner. It is crucial for both the government and health boards to work together to address these issues and improve the overall quality of care provided to the community.
