Scottish hospitals told corridor care ‘unacceptable’ in new NHS plan

In A&E, Scotland has a target that 95% of patients are to be seen, admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours of arrival.

Despite largely performing better than England and Wales in recent years, Scotland is still considerably below its target.

Waiting times for non-urgent treatment in Scotland’s hospitals can stretch into months and years, with ministers trying to cut the longest waits of over 52 weeks.

Long waits have fallen for nine months in a row but a target to eradicate them by the end of March was missed.

To help clear the backlogs, the Health and Care Improving Flow Plan aims to have the majority of patients discharged from hospital within three days “where clinically safe”.

And it pledges to make it easier for people to access the healthcare needed “at the first time of asking”.

This will come via an enhanced urgent care triage system and new “integrated navigation centres” – delivered jointly by NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service and health boards.