A report on NHS Grampian’s performance will be discussed today, taking in A&E waiting times and discharge rates.
The national A&E target expects 95% of patients to be seen within a four-hour window, which the report noted was “challenging” for staff.
Up until September this year,the percentage of people spending four hours or less in NHS Grampian’s A&E departments was 93.5% – slightly lower than number recorded in 2018.
Although still sitting below the national target, performance was above the Scottish wide rate of 90%.
However, the total number of people visiting the department was also slightly higher.
Over the last five years there has been a downward trend in people going to A&E for non-urgent conditions, however these still account for 21% of all attendances.
Emergency admissions for people over the age of 65 were lower than expected in the city but higher in Aberdeenshire and Moray.
There has been a “concerted effort” in Grampian to reduce delayed discharges and the length of time they last.
In September there were 114 patients delayed compared to 105 in August.
Addressing this, the report states: “The health and social care partnerships are introducing additional efforts to reduce patients being delayed in hospital.
“These include extending staffing capacity and introducing new processes to improve timely and safe flow out of hospital.
“In some areas the establishment of interim and very sheltered housing flats will provide additional care outside of hospital.”
