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Waiting times at Scottish A&E departments meet target Waiting times at Scottish A&E departments meet target
(35 minutes later)
Scotland's accident and emergency departments have met a key waiting time target for the first time since weekly reporting began.Scotland's accident and emergency departments have met a key waiting time target for the first time since weekly reporting began.
Official figures indicated 95.4% of patients were seen and then admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.Official figures indicated 95.4% of patients were seen and then admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.
The latest numbers cover the week ending 12 July. The government's interim target set a figure of 95%.The latest numbers cover the week ending 12 July. The government's interim target set a figure of 95%.
Health Secretary Shona Robison called the news "extremely promising".Health Secretary Shona Robison called the news "extremely promising".
The controversial 95% target was introduced by the Scottish government as a stepping stone towards its full target of 98% of patients being dealt with in four hours or less.
When weekly reporting started in February, only 86.1% of A&E patients were treated within four hours.
Missed target
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was the only health board to miss the target in the latest figures. Its average waiting time was 93.9%.
Ms Robison said: "It is extremely promising that our core A&E departments are seeing and treating 95% of patients within four hours. NHS staff have been working extremely hard to cut waiting times and deliver a first-class service, and the figures published today are testament to this.
"It is also good to see that every health board in Scotland treated nine out of 10 people within four hours, with 13 reaching 95%. In addition, long waits continue to remain low.
"We now need to maintain this improvement and continue to achieve 95% nationally throughout the summer to ensure that all health boards are in an optimum position as we head in to this winter."
Across the country, a total of 61 patients waited in A&E for more than eight hours, while another seven people waited for more than 12 hours.