A&E and delayed discharge figures

Figures published today show in the first week of January (week ending 8 January 2017), NHS Scotland performance against the four-hour A&E target was 87.9%.

This compares to 88.0% in the equivalent week in 2016.

There were 25,066 attendances at core A&E departments in the week ending 8th January – a 3% increase in attendances compared to the equivalent week in 2016.

Also published today were delayed discharge statistics - showing in November 2016 45,639 bed days in hospital were lost due to delays in discharge – a reduction of 2,465 bed days (or 5.1%) on October 2016.

The November 2016 census – which provides a snapshot of delayed discharge on one day of the month – shows a 4.3% decrease in patients waiting to be discharged.

Commenting on the statistics, Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The figures published today show in the first week of January, our A&E departments performed at the same level as last year – despite seeing an increase in demand. 

“While there are undoubtedly seasonal pressures on our frontline healthcare services at the moment, the latest available data shows Scotland’s hospitals are performing ten percentage points better than England’s and 15 percentage points better than Wales.

“This shows the strength of our Six Essential Actions for Unscheduled Care strategy, launched in 2015 and which has helped roll out best practice in emergency departments across the country. We will continue to work with and provide any additional support required to those hospitals or health boards facing particular challenges with demand and performance.

“It is also encouraging to see a reduction in the number of bed days lost to delayed discharge in November.

“What these figures show is a 5.1% reduction in bed days associated with delayed discharge in 2016 compared with 2015, while the same period in England experienced a 23% increase.

“However, one unnecessary delay is one too many and I have repeated my ambition and expectation that our new integrated health and social care partnerships will address this.

“The draft budget announced an additional £107 million to transfer from the NHS to health and social care partnerships to support sustainability in the care sector, bringing the NHS contribution to enhancing social care to around £500 million next year, and that funding will be used to further improve social care provisions.”

Background

The statistics are published on the ISD Scotland website: http://www.isdscotland.org/