NHS Scotland’s Type 1 Emergency departments 4 hour waits improve for third month to beat NHS England by 10% and longer waits fall to the lowest in more than two years

Professor John Robertson OBA

From Public Health Scotland today, Scotland’s full emergency (Type 1) departments treated 67.1% within 4 hours, in March 2025, the third consecutive improvement.

In NHS England, the equivalent (Type 1) figure 60.9%, 9.2% worse [NHS Scotland 10.1% better] and resulting in around 80 000 waiting longer than they would have if the SNP led NHS England.

Of the 117 827 attending, the number waiting more than 12 hours had fallen to 5 479, the lowest since November 2022, and the number waiting more than 8 hours had fallen to 13 350, the lowest since September 2023.

Sources:

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/healthcare-system/urgent-and-unscheduled-care/accident-and-emergency/interactive-charts/how-long-people-spend-in-ae/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2024-25/