Scandal of 10,000 over-85s waiting for 12 hours in A&E

Experts call on government to sort out crisis

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

ALMOST 10,000 Scots patients over the age of 85 were forced to wait more than 12 hours in A&E in the past year.

Figures obtained by the Scottish Lib Dems also showed that, incredibly, 834 of them were more than 95 years old.

The Scottish Government’s own target to be seen, treated and discharged or admitted is four hours but that target hasn’t been met in nearly four years.

Dr JP Loughrey, vice president (Scotland) of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), said: “The sad reality is that elderly patients are suffering from the consequences of the current failings in the urgent and emergency care system.

“This is wholly unacceptable. Our calls to urgently address this crisis cannot continue to be ignored by government.

“People are suffering and lives are being lost – surely there is no stronger validation that the current system requires immediate intervention.