Humza Yousaf, the health secretary, has announced a further £10 million to help Scotland’s struggling accident and emergency departments.
With the NHS still under pressure from the pandemic, Yousaf said the additional cash aimed to “ease pressures” in A&E units and “minimise delays”.
Figures published last week show that only 70.9 per cent of patients were seen within the target time of four hours for A&E. In some areas, patients are being told not to visit A&E unless their condition is “life threatening”. New waiting times figures are due to be published today.
The funding is in addition to the £300 million pledged to help the NHS cope over winter — which ministers have warned will be the most challenging ever for the health service.
The funding is to be used by health boards to ensure A&E patients can get the “right care as quickly as possible”, with physiotherapists and occupational therapists being required to triage and treat patients who would otherwise wait to see nursing staff.
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The money will also allow extra staff to be on duty over public holidays, while more allied health and social care workers will join hospital rotas.
Hospital pharmacies and diagnostic services, such as scanning and ultrasound units, will operate longer hours to help speed up referrals.
Yousaf said: “As part of the NHS recovery plan, we have invested £27 million towards the redesign of urgent care to ensure people receive the right care, at the right place.
“This will add to that work so our hospitals and A&E departments are not overstretched, if some patients can be safely and effectively treated elsewhere.”
He added: “The extra winter funding aims to ease pressures in A&E departments and minimise delays that patients are currently experiencing when they need urgent care.
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“Placing physiotherapists and occupational therapists in A&E will stop unnecessary hospital admissions so that, for example, patients with musculoskeletal conditions, chest infections, or those who have suffered a fall, can receive the right care quickly and advice on exercises to support recovery at home and in the community.”
