By Professor John Robertson OBA

From Public Health Scotland, today, we see that 65.8% of all admissions to full emergency departments (ED) were treated within 4 hours in August 2024, down roughly 10% on January 2020 but now at the same level since January 2023.

In the same period, demand increased from 110 742 to 133 454, up 20.9%.

In NHS England:

From NHS England, we see that 62.5% of all admissions to full emergency departments (Type 1) were treated within 4 hours in August 2024, similar to January 2020 and at roughly the same level since January then.

In the same period, demand fell slightly from 836 435 to 825 658.

NHS Scotland’s 3.3% difference, 5.3% better (3.3% of 62.5) seems, as a percentage small but remember that it means that nearly 45 000 patients (5.3% of 825 658) in England, would have been seen within 4 hours in Scotland but were not because they attend English hospitals.

It also means nearly 6 000 patients (5.3% of 110 542) in Scotland would have not been seen within 4 hours in England but were because they attend Scottish hospitals.

Finally, note the significantly higher level of attendance at Scottish emergency departments.

All things being equal, NHS Scotland might have expected to see 10% of England’s 836 435, roughly 84 000 but actually saw around 112 000, 25% more.

Why is this? Older population? More rural employment?

Sources:

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/our-areas-of-work/acute-and-emergency-services/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/main-points/all-ae-sites/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/

The OBA – https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116