Waiting times in Scottish emergency departments (ED) have reached a record low. According to the latest figures, just 63.5% of patients were dealt with within four hours.
The Scottish Government aims for 95% of patients to be seen and then admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours. Out of 14 health boards, just one - NHS Western Isles - met the four-hour standard.
Over 3,300 patients waited more than eight hours in the week ending September 11. Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said the figures were "not acceptable" in a statement acknowledging the "significant pressure" placed on A&E units.
He said: "Our accident and emergency departments are working under significant pressure, and in common with health services across the rest of the UK and globally, the impact of the pandemic continues to affect services.
"Notwithstanding this, I am clear that the current level of performance is not acceptable, that is why I am determined to improve performance and am working closely with boards on a number of measures to reduce pressure on hospitals."
The previous low was 64.8% in July and the figures have been below 70% since May. Public Health Scotland (PHS) reports the current A&E attendance rates are similar to levels pre-Covid.
According to the most recent PHS figures, NHS Scotland saw 27,097 attendances at emergency departments in the week ending September 11. Of these, 63.5% attendances met the four-hour standard - a drop from the 71.3% rate reported in June.
A total of 3,367 people - 12.4% of patients - spent more than eight hours being seen and admitted or discharged. There were 1,257 people (4.63%) who spent more than 12 hours in an A&E.
"From the summer of 2021 the proportion of ED attendances being seen within four hours has dropped below 80% and has remained at this rate for a prolonged period of time," wrote PHS.
Scotland A&E waiting times by health board by four hour standard
The four-hour standard is based on patients being seen with a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge in four hours. The following ranking is based on PHS' figures for the week ending September 11.
1. NHS Western Isles - 38.3%
2. NHS Lanarkshire - 51.9%
3. NHS Fife - 56.2%
4. NHS Lothian - 60.4%
5. NHS Borders - 63.7%
6. NHS Grampian - 64% (tie)
6. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 64% (tie)
8. NHS Ayrshire & Arran - 67%
9. NHS Dumfries & Galloway - 78.6%
10. NHS Highland - 81%
11. NHS Orkney - 82.4%
12. NHS Tayside - 84.6%
13. NHS Shetland - 91.6%
14. NHS Western Isles - 98.5%
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