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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| A&E patients in Scotland enduring 'inhumane' conditions | A&E patients in Scotland enduring 'inhumane' conditions |
| (2 months later) | |
| Emergency departments across Scotland are experiencing conditions 'worst than pandemic times', says leading doctor | Emergency departments across Scotland are experiencing conditions 'worst than pandemic times', says leading doctor |
| Several of Scotland's A&E departments want emergency measures brought in because of concerns about patient safety, a leading clinician has said. | Several of Scotland's A&E departments want emergency measures brought in because of concerns about patient safety, a leading clinician has said. |
| Dr John Paul Loughrey, of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said patients were being kept in "inhumane" conditions due to high occupancy. | Dr John Paul Loughrey, of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said patients were being kept in "inhumane" conditions due to high occupancy. |
| A&E waiting times have been the worst on record in recent weeks and months. | A&E waiting times have been the worst on record in recent weeks and months. |
| The Scottish government has urged people with common winter illness to use NHS self help guides. | The Scottish government has urged people with common winter illness to use NHS self help guides. |
| On Sunday, RCEM president Dr Adrian Boyle said between 300 and 500 people were dying every week across the UK as a result of delays to emergency care - this appeared to be based on research published by the Emergency Medical Journal. | On Sunday, RCEM president Dr Adrian Boyle said between 300 and 500 people were dying every week across the UK as a result of delays to emergency care - this appeared to be based on research published by the Emergency Medical Journal. |
| He said a severe flu outbreak, which was made worse by a lack of immunity because of Covid isolation measures, has resulted in bed occupancy reaching record levels. | He said a severe flu outbreak, which was made worse by a lack of immunity because of Covid isolation measures, has resulted in bed occupancy reaching record levels. |
| Dr Loughrey, who is RCEM vice president in Scotland, said the figure was around 50 deaths per week north of the border. | Dr Loughrey, who is RCEM vice president in Scotland, said the figure was around 50 deaths per week north of the border. |
| Some A&Es in complete crisis, health chiefs warn | Some A&Es in complete crisis, health chiefs warn |
| Doctors ask health board to declare major incident | Doctors ask health board to declare major incident |
| Flu rates in Scotland at highest level since 2017 | Flu rates in Scotland at highest level since 2017 |
| A number of hospitals in England have declared critical incidents in recent days, meaning they cannot function as usual due to extraordinary pressure. | A number of hospitals in England have declared critical incidents in recent days, meaning they cannot function as usual due to extraordinary pressure. |
| Dr Loughrey said similar discussions were happening in Scottish A&E departments, after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde refused to declare a major incident at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. | Dr Loughrey said similar discussions were happening in Scottish A&E departments, after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde refused to declare a major incident at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. |
| He told the BBC vulnerable patients were being kept in "frigid" conditions in ambulances parked outside hospitals because there was no room for new admissions. | He told the BBC vulnerable patients were being kept in "frigid" conditions in ambulances parked outside hospitals because there was no room for new admissions. |
| QEUH staff raised concerns over patient safety | QEUH staff raised concerns over patient safety |
| Others, he said, faced waiting on hospital trolleys for hours and becoming delirious, with risks of falling or contracting infections due to crowded waiting rooms. | Others, he said, faced waiting on hospital trolleys for hours and becoming delirious, with risks of falling or contracting infections due to crowded waiting rooms. |
| "The Queen Elizabeth is not the only hospital that has considered stepping on to major incident footing," he said. | "The Queen Elizabeth is not the only hospital that has considered stepping on to major incident footing," he said. |
| "Other clinicians who work in emergency departments have reported the same discussions across the whole country, not just the west of Scotland. | "Other clinicians who work in emergency departments have reported the same discussions across the whole country, not just the west of Scotland. |
| "We really need urgent intervention across the whole system in order to protect the patients from the harm that's befalling them just now." | "We really need urgent intervention across the whole system in order to protect the patients from the harm that's befalling them just now." |
| 'Worse than pandemic times' | 'Worse than pandemic times' |
| Scotland recorded its worst ever performance times at A&E in the week up to 18 December, with 55% of patients seen within the government target of four hours. | Scotland recorded its worst ever performance times at A&E in the week up to 18 December, with 55% of patients seen within the government target of four hours. |
| This is down from 62.4% the previous week. | This is down from 62.4% the previous week. |
| A total of 1,821 patients spent more than 12 hours in emergency departments across Scotland. | A total of 1,821 patients spent more than 12 hours in emergency departments across Scotland. |
| Dr Loughrey suggested health boards could take emergency measures such as redeploying staff in the same way as in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic - though that would not be a catch-all solution. | Dr Loughrey suggested health boards could take emergency measures such as redeploying staff in the same way as in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic - though that would not be a catch-all solution. |
| He said this would put more focus on the front doors of hospitals, but may mean patients are moved to other wards that are understaffed. | He said this would put more focus on the front doors of hospitals, but may mean patients are moved to other wards that are understaffed. |
| However he said A&E departments were experiencing conditions "worse than anything seen during any of the pandemic times" and he was "astonished" that so many staff continued to show up for work. | However he said A&E departments were experiencing conditions "worse than anything seen during any of the pandemic times" and he was "astonished" that so many staff continued to show up for work. |
| "There is no easy answer to this," he said. "The people in government need to give us not the authority but the support when we feel this is a necessary step." | "There is no easy answer to this," he said. "The people in government need to give us not the authority but the support when we feel this is a necessary step." |
| Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said pressures from the Covid-19 pandemic had not gone away while backlogs, a cold winter and "extraordinary" flu levels had put increased strains on the NHS. | Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said pressures from the Covid-19 pandemic had not gone away while backlogs, a cold winter and "extraordinary" flu levels had put increased strains on the NHS. |
| He said the Scottish government was working with health boards to ensure people leave hospital without delay. | He said the Scottish government was working with health boards to ensure people leave hospital without delay. |
| "Emergency care is always available for those who need it," he added. "However many people are seeking help with common winter illness and NHS Inform have useful self-help guides to let everyone know when to stay home and when to seek more care. | "Emergency care is always available for those who need it," he added. "However many people are seeking help with common winter illness and NHS Inform have useful self-help guides to let everyone know when to stay home and when to seek more care. |
| "If you do think you think you need to visit A&E, but it is not an emergency, you can contact NHS 24 where you may be referred to a more appropriate urgent care service. Local GPs and pharmacies can be also be contacted as a first port of call for non-critical care." | "If you do think you think you need to visit A&E, but it is not an emergency, you can contact NHS 24 where you may be referred to a more appropriate urgent care service. Local GPs and pharmacies can be also be contacted as a first port of call for non-critical care." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scotland health | Scotland health |
| NHS Scotland | NHS Scotland |
| Coronavirus pandemic | |
| Humza Yousaf | Humza Yousaf |