89.3% of over 25 000 patients were seen within 4 hours in the last week of December 2018. This compares very favourably with December 2017 when only 78.1% of over 25 000 were seen in 4 hours.
Note: I have use BBC Scotland editorial guidelines in rounding the numbers above.
The December figures for NHS England are not out yet but even in November 2018, only 81.1% were seen in 4 hours.
Note: This was reported pretty fairly on Reporting Scotland las night. They were careful to give the actual percentage which I have previously accused them of withholding in case any viewers were to think ‘91.2%? That’s no bad. I’d take thae odds.’
Note 2: Sadly, veteran demonstrator, Jackie Bird, was unavailable to present this report (sick?), leaving it to the more agreeable presentation of Ms Whyte.
Talking-up Scotland 
Meanwhile The Herald today takes a different view on the stats: ‘Surge in patients waiting too long in A&E.’
They are basing their story on the annual figures. The report does mention that total attendances had risen by ‘just’ 1.4% compared to the previous year. Apparently the figures for the 12 hour plus wait had risen by 60% but of course the raw data I.e. the actual numbers were not reported.
There is growing pressure on the NHS but I just wonder how many of the people, particularly point-scoring party politicians, who constantly criticise the NHS without ever acknowledging the great work they do actually ever come close to working at 90% efficiency?
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The use of the term, “waiting time”, gives a false impression that during the period between registering and discharge is spent waiting for treatment to start. During the period casualties will have been triaged, given some initial treatment and some treatment prior to discharge. There will, of course, be shorter periods during the whole period when the patient is literally, ‘waiting’. On my last A&Evisit, with a cut finger which I could not get to stop bleeding, I spent the bulk of my period in the department waiting after initial treatment to see if the actions taken had, in fact, caused the bleeding to stop.
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Hmm, yes, I assumed the waiting time was the time taken until you are first seen – are you saying these target times are for the whole treatment? Surely not! How can you predict how long the treatment will take??
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She’s awaiting delivery of a new calculietor.
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Day by day, piece by piece – across the entire range of Scottish life that the hopelessly inadequate devolution settlement allows – the Scottish focussed SNP Scottish Govt pushes forward to improve life and living conditions for the whole of Scotland (including our livestock). Just imagine what Scotland could start to achieve with full Indy powers? – link and (short) piece from Scottish Legal site:
https://www.scottishlegal.com/article/new-legislation-to-improve-animal-welfare
Legislation is to be brought forward this year requiring abattoirs to install CCTV in all areas where live animals are present.
The proposal was backed by the vast majority of respondents to a recent consultation carried out by the Scottish government.
Announcing the news ahead of a parliamentary statement on animal welfare, rural affairs minister Mairi Gougeon said: “More than eight out of ten slaughterhouses in Scotland have already installed CCTV coverage in their premises voluntarily, and over 95 per cent of all animals slaughtered in Scotland are covered by some form of CCTV. However, the standards of that coverage can differ from location to location.
“This government is committed to ensuring the highest standards of welfare for all animals. And we are pleased that so many respondents to our consultation backed our proposals to make this compulsory.
“It was important also to consider the financial implications of such a move for industry, and whether other options might be available to improve animal welfare.
“Following a positive response to the consultation, I’m delighted to announce that I will introduce legislation to the Scottish Parliament in 2019, which will help to improve further the already high standards being followed by the livestock sector in Scotland.”
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Miss Jaikie regrets she’s unable to lunch today,
She’s just bones with a head, but when the crew hear her tread,
they retreat with an almighty dread.
Miss Jaikie regrets she wont be public today,
When the news gets too good, she just wants to brood,
And stick pins in her wee Nickla doll.
Miss Jaikie regrets her bad acts with a pin,
An axe would be more to her taste.
Now that might be a sin, but when drinking neat gin,
Revenge needs to come, post haste.
Miss Jaikie regrets all these years that flew past,
In the mirror she dreads what she sees
Without her make-up, with her teeth in a cup,
All she can manage is “Jeeze”!
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With apologies to Cole Porter—and anyone with taste, metre, and a love of language
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Some of those images…yeuoooo
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