Understanding A&E waiting times
We know how important it is that patients attending our A&E are seen quickly. On average, we see over 200 patients each day in A&E, who all need to be assessed, treated and either discharged or admitted to hospital.
The four-hour target
The Scottish government sets a target for 95% of patients to be seen and discharged or admitted within four hours. While we met this target regularly before the pandemic, recent pressures, such as treatment backlogs, have made it more challenging. Currently, we're achieving this target for about three-quarters of A&E patients. You can read the latest monthly statistics on A&E departments across Scotland here. The sickest patients are prioritised.
There are some common misunderstandings about A&E waits. Although many patients will spend several hours within A&E, they will usually be assessed within two to three hours, even during busy times.
Patients with the most serious conditions are always seen first. Prioritising those who are most unwell means that patients with less urgent conditions will experience longer waits.
The sickest patients are prioritised
There are some common misunderstandings about A&E waits. Although many patients will spend several hours within A&E, they will usually be assessed within two to three hours, even during busy times.
Patients with the most serious conditions are always seen first. Prioritising those who are most unwell means that patients with less urgent conditions will experience longer waits.
Ambulance waiting times
While most people who attend hospital make their own way, of course some are brought to hospital by ambulance.
People naturally associate ambulances with A&E, and you’ll sometimes see pictures in the press or on social media of multiple ambulances parked outside A&E. It is often assumed that these ambulances are waiting to bring patients into A&E, although this usually isn’t the case – it just so happens that the parking area for ambulances at the Victoria Hospital is next to A&E entrance.
When patients are brought to hospital by ambulance they are usually transferred to the care of our clinical staff shortly after. It is also common for patients arriving by ambulance to be taken directly to other wards (this is very often the case when a patient is referred directly from their GP, for example). Similarly, when a patient is well enough to leave the acute hospital but still needs ongoing care in one of our community hospitals, it is ambulance staff who are responsible for transferring patients from one hospital to another.
When our A&E is particularly busy, it can sometimes be safer for patients to remain within ambulances with trained paramedic staff for a little longer before being brought into A&E. Where this is the case, measures are in place to minimise the length of times patients wait with ambulance staff. Paramedics also remain in frequent contact with staff in our A&E throughout.