DOCS AT HOME FACES THE AXE

Scheme was set up to ease pressure on A&E

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

A FLAGSHIP policy to tackle chronic A&E waiting times is facing the axe in Scotland's largest city.

Hospital at Home was hailed as the solution to massive queues at casualty departments, allowing elderly patients to be treated at home for minor health issues.

But a report on proposed cuts to health and social services has recommended axing the service.

The latest figures show half of all patients arriving at A&E are not seen within the four-hour target way below the 95 per cent target. Successive health secretaries have looked to extending Hospital at Home services to ease congestion at hospital front doors and prevent ambulances queuing up outside for hours at a time.