Under-pressure health chiefs have once again pleaded with patients to steer clear of hospital A&E departments unless their condition is life-threatening.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde urged members of the public to see their GP or call NHS 24, rather than call into emergency units.
It comes as Covid infections are on the increase, following a fresh spike in cases fuelled by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants.
We told how A&E performance at Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital declined in the week ending June 19, with just 61.9 per cent of patients admitted, transferred or discharged in line with the Scottish Government's own four hour targets.
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Now medics have warned of long waiting times across NHS GGC's emergency acute sites and say there are quicker treatment routes available.
Dr Scott Davidson, Deputy Medical Director for Acute Services for NHSGGC warned that frontline teams facing significant pressure as they battle to look after patients in desperate need of urgent care.
He said: “Our staff are working around the clock to make sure we continue to see the sickest patients coming to our A&Es but we’re over capacity. Services are stowed out, creating a bottleneck at the front door, and as a result patients unfortunately are having to wait long periods of time to be treated.”
The clinician urged patients to use pointed to other pathways available to get treatment faster and to help support frontline teams by spreading demand, adding: "Unless it’s life-threatening or very urgent, do not come to A&E. Use your pharmacy, phone your GP or call 111 to access NHSGGC’s virtual A&E. You might still face a wait to use these services, but for most people, you’ll be seen much faster than if you come to A&E.
Current pressures can be attributed in part to COVID-19, with more, sicker patients presenting at A&E as a result of holding off during the height of previous pandemic waves, coupled with high current staff absence due to the most recent spike in Covid 19 cases.
The medic also warned: “We’re in summer and our A&Es are comparable, if not busier than we’d normally expect during the winter months. The pressures run throughout the service, with beds unavailable for ongoing treatment within our hospitals as we manage challenges.”
The senior clinician thanked staff across the service for their efforts in tackling the most recent challenges, saying: “I am truly humbled by the ongoing efforts of our staff – they’re working incredibly hard in the face of these challenges. From care provided in the community - HCSPs, GPs, and pharmacists - through to all the staff across hospital and acute sites – everyone is being forced to manage different and new demands."
The doctor also reminded patients how to help support the health service and how to get the right care.
He said: “It’s absolutely crucial for the public to help us now by really considering how they access urgent care. Do you need to come to A&E or could you be better served elsewhere."
Critics have accused the Scottish Government of failing to adequately help the NHS to ramp up services in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
Staff leaders at Paisley's RAH have been warning of "chronic" problems facing staff since last October.
Unison reps also said burnt out workers are "on their knees".
For help visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/, call NHS 24 on 111 or log on to the NHSGGC website at: https://www.nhsggc.scot/your-health/right-care-right-place/
In the case of life-threatening emergencies, the public should call 999 or attend A&E.
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