In desperate attempt to solve A&E crisis, UK Labour quietly cuts 95% target to only 78% and damages the life-saving triage system but still has TWO to THREE times as many waiting longer in NHS England than in NHS Scotland

all the focus is on people who can be sent home easily.

Professor John Robertson OBA

BBC Breakfast this morning has a nursing union rep telling us that the A&E waiting time target in NHS England has been reduced under pressure from the Labour Government, from 95% to only 78% and that, as a result, to try to hit it, easier cases are being prioritised over more difficult, serious cases.

That’s doubly shocking.

First, how and when did that cut from 95% to 78% happen and why has Jackie Baillie not been asked about that situation in Labour-led England?

Second, is he saying that the triage system, designed to make sure that the life-threatening cases, regardless of time required to treat, come first, is no longer in operation fully in NHS England and why has Jackie Baillie not been asked about that situation in Labour-led England?

What is the task they face?

From Public Health Scotland, March 4th 2025:

8,814 (7.2%) patients spent more than 12 hours in A&E.1

In NHS England, for the same month, the figure was 15.36%, more than twice as many pro rata.2

Sources:

  1. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/main-points/all-ae-sites/
  2. https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/

9 thoughts on “In desperate attempt to solve A&E crisis, UK Labour quietly cuts 95% target to only 78% and damages the life-saving triage system but still has TWO to THREE times as many waiting longer in NHS England than in NHS Scotland”

    1. He may have – but is at the mercy of the MSM in publicising his comments .

      The major problem in Scotland in pushing ”Good News” from the SNP Government is a media which deliberately suppresses the positive and accentuates the negative ( often invented by them ! ).

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  2. If NHS Scotland A&E achieved 100% of patients seen and discharged within 4 hours for three successive months, Jackie Baillie would be complaining that ‘progress has stalled over the past three months’.

    Alasdair Macdonald

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  3. UK Labour ?

    Now Starmer’s Labour party….

    The same Starmer who now writes articles in the Daily Torygraph (aka Telegraph) with quotes like this:

    “Every pound spent, every regulation, every decision, must deliver for working people”

    The Daily Torygraph of course being the kind of newspaper one would normally associate as being only favoured by the majority of “working people” ….NOT !

    So Starmer spelling it out (again) that if you are not “working” then Labour as the UK government will not “deliver” for you.

    Got it.

    However we knew that already , based on everything that has been said and done by Starmer’s Labour party since they came to power last year.

    Liz S

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    1. Oh and yes I know , Starmer’s Labour are also not actually “delivering” for “working people” either.

      In fact the only “growth” happening within Starmer’s UK is a continued “growth” in the wealth of those who were already wealthy, so no change there then. (from when the Tories were in power).

      Liz S

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  5. I’d honestly be cautious on taking this at face value John – Trusts in England have been fiddling the books for years driven by targets which have everything to do with funding, the data then manipulated via the Ministry to produce the desirable political outcome as espoused by your favourite ‘sealian’ pic in Holyrood, as oft seen to perform minus ball, Tsunami Baillie.

    I strongly suspect what is now being paraded by Labour as policy is what they can’t change, it’s built into the production line mentality of Tory politicians who can afford private medical insurance, Wes Streeting for example.

    Nobody is doubting the data other than the usual suspects – Scots are in good hands and they know it, but it wasn’t designed in an age of false austerity, it was despite the country being on it’s financial knees in 1946, when there was still rationing FFS.

    I would hate to see the day SG play the same stupid statistical games as Westminster or Baillie or Gulhane or ACH-him in Scotland – Keep those charged with watching and measuring independent, and it will all be fine – Propaganda is our greatest enemy and their greatest weakness.

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      1. Exactly, plus probably a dozen or so other fiddles we’re not so aware of to ‘cook the books’.

        The NHS has not only been struggling with under-funding for many years, but serial meddling by politicians reducing available manpower at UK level….

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