In the Herald, under Tom Gordon’s drivel today a comment that I think I am free to share here:

by Gerard Gerard

Because of different publication schedules, there is a delay before a direct comparison of A&E waiting times performance for the latest month can be made for the NHS across the UK. Direct comparisons for the month of June, 2023 can now be made: the focus is on England, Scotland and Wales.

Rather than rely on own analysis and interpretation of raw official data, fully referenced extracts from statements published by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM: see under Press & Media’ tab of its website) are used. The variations in the key metrics are summarised .

NHS England FOUR HOUR STANDARD:

Four-hour performance at major Emergency Departments was 60.2%’

EIGHT HOUR WAITS: not reported

12 HOUR WAITS: 108,225 patients waited 12-hours or more from their time of arrival

This accounts for 8% of Type 1 Emergency Department attendances.

Scotland

FOUR HOUR STANDARD: 69% of patients were seen within four-hours at major Emergency Departments.

EIGHT HOUR WAITS: ’9,489 (8.2%) patients waited eight-hours or more in an Emergency Department. 12 HOUR WAITS: 2,991 (2.6%) patients waited more than 12-hours before being seen, admitted, discharged, or transferred

Wales

FOUR HOUR STANDARD: ’62.5% of patients in major Emergency Departments were admitted, transferred or discharged within four-hours from arrival

EIGHT HOUR WAITS: ’20% of major Emergency Department attendances waited more than eight-hours (15,269 patients). This means that one in five patients were delayed eight-hours or more at a major Emergency Department

12 HOUR WAITS: 3% (sic) of major Emergency Department attendances waited more than 12-hours (8,433 patients). This means more than one in eight patients were delayed by 12-hours or more. There is an error in the RCEM’s reporting! The error is in the percentage of attendances experiencing 12 hour waits. From elsewhere in the same RCEM statement: There were 68,330 attendances to major Emergency Departments. It reports 8,433 patients waiting 12 hours or more. By calculation, this equates to 12.3% (NOT 3%!).

Summary

Based on the RCEM’s own assessment of official waiting times performance in June for the NHS in England, Scotland and Wales:

attendances meeting the four hour standard: varies between 69% in Scotland (best) to 60.2% in England

attendances with eight hour waits: varies between 8.2% in Scotland (best) and 20% in Wales

attendances with 12 hour waits: varies between 2.6% in Scotland (best) and 12.3% in Wales.