More criticism for ari after cleanliness shock
Hospital under fire over A&E decline
Published:
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was under fire last night for having the worst casualty treatment times of any major hospital in Scotland – a day after a report revealed shocking standards of cleanliness.
According to new figures from the NHS, just 93.8% of accident and emergency patients were seen at ARI within four hours in September, compared with a national target of 98%.
By comparison the A&E at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee treated 99.2% of patients within four hours and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness managed to treat 97.7%.
The only hospital to do worse than ARI was tiny St Brendan’s Hospital, on the Hebridean island of Barra, where 92.7% of patients were treated in four hours.
The latest figures show the percentage of A&E patients treated within four hours at ARI has been slowly declining over the last four months, down from 95.9% in June.
The revelations come hard on the heels of a damning report by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate which found dirty toilets, stained shower trays, spillages on walls and dusty wards at the hospital.
Liberal Democrat chief whip Mike Rumbles plans to press for Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon to make a statement to MSPs.
“The situation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary seems to be going from bad to worse,” the MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine said.
“One day we have an absolutely appalling report on hygiene – or the lack of it – at the hospital and the next day we have a report like this where the hospital services aren’t coping.
“I will, at the business bureau, be calling for a ministerial statement on ARI to cover both of these points.”
MSPs suspect people who cannot get a GP appointment in normal working hours, or are reluctant to take time off work, are resorting to the A&E department. There are also fears the department is being forced to look after people who are drunk, incapable and should be allowed to sober up in a safe environment, such as Albyn House.
Aberdeen Central Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said the problem was due to the “funding crisis” hitting NHS Grampian which was set to get worse next year.
“My fear is that with NHS Grampian looking for savings in the region of £20million or more and staff being encouraged to leave, the consequences are bound to be felt. And the signs are that things will only get worse,” he said.
disappointing
North-east Conservative MSP Nanette Milne said of the casualty treatment times at ARI: “It is disappointing. I am sure the board of NHS Grampian will be looking at it to find out why.”
NHS Grampian lead nurse for the acute sector Fiona Mackenzie said: “Since September, NHS Grampian has regularly been achieving more than 97%, but we are putting a new structure in place which will help A&E meet and maintain the national standard.
“This includes the creation of a management structure to support and lead unscheduled care, targeting areas in acute services, primary care, transport and pharmacy which have an important role in ensuring A&E can meet the target.”
She said the changes were taking place against a backdrop of increasing numbers of people attending A&E.
