The Scottish Government has come under fire after Paisley’s failing Royal Alexandra Hospital notched up the worst A&E wait times performance in Scotland against patient attendance figures.
New data this week reveals emergency department performance is on the slide again at the Corsebar Road facility, despite the “heroic” efforts of staff to shore up services in the midst of a continuing crisis.
Even the under-pressure Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow’s Govan, which usually returns dismal performances against the Scottish Government’s four hour A&E wait time target, did better than the RAH, new figures show.
And the news has prompted Labour’s Neil Bibby to call for action on the “dire” situation at the Paisley hospital, accusing Scottish Government health supremo Humza Yousaf of “watching from the sidelines” as services go under.
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The RAH treated 53.8 per cent of 1,170 patients who passed through the A&E department in the week ending May 15 within four hours.
Some 541 patients had to wait more than four hours, while 159 notched up waits of eight hours or more and 59 were still waiting after 12.
Scottish Government quotas require 95 per cent of A&E patients to be treated, admitted, transferred or discharged within the timescale.
But the target has been widely missed in Scotland’s hospitals since the pandemic began.
The RAH and the QEUH, both operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, have repeatedly notched up some of the worst A&E wait times performances in Scotland.
In recent weeks, the situation had begun to slowly improve at the RAH, with figures climbing to just over 60 per cent, before they began to slump again last week.
Now West Scotland MSP Neil Bibby, who has pressed Scottish Government Health Minister Mr Yousaf on RAH performance at Holyrood, said: “These dire figures show A&E wait times at the RAH at the second worst level on record. That’s the sort of figure you expect in mid-winter - not in May.
"A few weeks ago the figures were improving, but the situation now seems to be getting worse, not better.
“This is not the fault of our heroic RAH staff, who continue to deliver the best care they can in the face of appalling pressures.
“The failures are of leadership at the top.
“This crisis has raged for many months, but still the Health Secretary and the health board are completely failing to get a grip.”
Mr Bibby added: “Humza Yousaf must act now. Stop commentating as if from the sidelines. Do right by RAH patients and staff, and get a grip on this life-threatening crisis.”
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary turned in a worse performance at 51.9 per cent against target, but it were faced with attending to 2,293 patients.
Forth Valley Royal Hospital managed a four hour wait time performance of 53 per cent, but logged 4,903 patients.
Glasgow Royal Infirmary dealt with 62.7 per cent of 1,643 patients against the four hour target, while the Queen Elizabeth saw 55.2 per cent of 1,865 patients.
The Scottish average against target was 70.9 per cent.
Mr Yousaf was forced to visit the RAH in March in a bid to iron out issues with union leaders and managers following a string of issues.
The Express told as far back as last October how Unison reps at the site were warning of “chronic” shortages of staff at they RAH.
They later described the situation at the hospital as “dire” and told how staff were “on their knees” battling through after the pandemic and were also suffering from pressure caused by staff sickness.
Even patients, including Paisley gran Jeanette Carden, were warning of the situation at the RAH.
The pensioner endured a stay at the hospital in September during which she caught E Coli and ended up as the lone female on an all male ward during an ordeal she described as “third world”.
NHSGGC bosses have repeatedly asked the public to avoid A&E departments unless it is vital.
A spokesman for the board defended their position, saying: “Covid-19 is still very much with us. Our hospitals are near capacity, with large numbers of patients admitted to hospital – either as direct result of the virus, or admitted for another illness but having tested positive with no symptoms.
“This is putting significant pressure on capacity and available bed numbers and is having a knock-on effect at our A&E departments and assessment units.
“The rise in patient numbers and the logistical challenges this brings to our teams is being further compounded by the difficulties we face due to delayed discharges, which we are working hard to resolve.”
He added: “An additional pressure, is the challenge Covid-19 infection is creating across our workforce, with significant numbers absent as a result of the virus.
“We are sorry if anyone experiences in a delay in being treated and we are reminding the public not to come to A&E unless suffering from a very urgent or life-threatening condition. Everyone else who thinks they need urgent medical attention should speak to their GP first, or, call NHS24 on 111.”
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