Health Secretary Constance urges NHS to boost support for overstretched A&E teams this winter
Health Secretary Angela Constance warned that emergency departments are under severe pressure and called for all NHS parts to increase effort this winter.
At a fringe session of the SNP conference, Health Secretary Angela Constance highlighted the intense pressure facing A&E clinicians, describing them as “under the cosh”. She urged every part of the NHS to “step up” and share responsibility to ease the winter burden. The Scottish government’s preparedness plan includes expanding hospital-at-home services, adopting a “home first” policy, launching a public awareness campaign about appropriate care pathways, encouraging flu vaccinations and addressing delayed discharges.
Constance noted that while 97 % of discharges are timely, many patients could leave sooner, and she questioned why successful discharge initiatives are not applied nationwide. The British Medical Association warned that this winter may present greater challenges than recent years. Constance expressed frustration over stark regional variations in handling delayed discharge.
Why it matters
Reducing pressure on emergency departments is crucial to maintain safe, timely care during the winter surge.
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