Excess deaths in Scotland that were linked to delays in emergency department admission increased by a third last year, shows an analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).
The college estimates that in 2024 some 16 deaths a week were associated with long waits for emergency care.1
Fiona Hunter, vice president of RCEM Scotland, said, “The fact that the deaths of more than 800 patients have been lost due to a system in crisis is a national tragedy. These are patients who are sick and need further care on a ward.
“So, they are forced to endure extreme wait times for an inpatient bed to become available for them. Often, they will be experiencing this, counting the …
