Questions are again being asked about the extent of Fife’s A&E crisis – amid allegations 14 ambulances queued outside Victoria Hospital at once.
Alex Rowley MSP is demanding answers from NHS Fife after concerned constituents contacted him following The Courier’s story on the waits for ambulances facing locals.
Now he’s heard claims 14 ambulances were waiting outside A&E with patients on board on Monday October 18.
He says: “I’m told some waited for over four hours.
“It also meant nearly every ambulance in Fife was sat outside the hospital with no cover for other emergencies.
“NHS Fife must answer the questions and must offer full transparency around the scale of the problems being faced.
“Staff are exhausted…this cannot be allowed to continue.
“I know staff are working under immense pressure with many exhausted both physically and mentally so this cannot be allowed to continue.
“We need to know what steps are being taken to ease the pressures on staff whilst ensuring people who need hospital care can access it.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service says they operate a national fleet service, with vehicles moving frequently between locations and vehicle numbers constantly changing.
“Patient handover delays at hospitals due to emergency departments being at capacity continue to be a major issue. And are significantly impacting our ability to get to patients as quickly as we’d like to.”
They said they’re working closely with health boards to tackle challenges.
NHS Fife Director of Acute Services, Claire Dobson gave reassurance “safe and effective care” continues.
She explains: “During particularly busy periods, a small number of patients remained within ambulances with trained paramedic staff, for a short time, before being seen within our Emergency Department.
‘Hospitals remain under strain’
“Importantly, ambulances may remain outside our Emergency Department after a patient has been admitted. This enables staff to have well-deserved breaks or complete administrative tasks.”
She reports the scale of current pressures means Emergency Department staff:
- Regularly treat more than 200 patients each day and sometimes more than 250.
- See the majority of patients within four hours.
The number of patients who need inpatient care has also been increasing.
“Despite unprecedented pressures, staff in our Emergency Department continue to provide safe and effective care. Patients are triaged so those requiring most urgent treatment are seen most quickly,” Claire Dobson continues.
Chief Executive Carol Potter added they have been “completely transparent” about the scale of pressures with public statements, health data online, regular board level meetings with elected representatives and weekly briefings.