Doctors call for major incident as Queen Elizabeth University Hospital ‘unsafe’

Last week, NHS Grampian said it had taken the “significant step” of declaring a critical board incident due to sustained and continuing demands on Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).

Patients requiring immediate life-saving care were still dealt with at ARI but other patients were diverted hospitals in Dundee and Elgin when it is deemed “clinically appropriate” to do so.

Some elective procedures and appointments were also postponed.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said “patient safety is paramount” following the critical incident.

He added: “This type of sustained pressure that services are facing is not unique to Scotland, similar challenges are being felt across the UK.

“While Scotland continues to have the best performing core A&E departments in the UK, performance is not of the standard we all expect.”

Hospitals in Scotland have been facing growing pressures in recent years.

A review by Audit Scotland said fundamental change in how NHS services are provided in Scotland is “urgently needed” to cope with growing demand.