A young patient has told how he was left for 12 hours in “excruciating pain” in an A&E ward as waiting times reached some of the worst levels since records began.
Mark McGregor, from Perth, suffered the delay in June at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
The 21-year-old had been transferred there with abdominal pain after initially turning up at Perth Royal Infirmary for help.
According to NHS Scotland stats, only 85 per cent of the 136,847 patients attending A&E in June were admitted, transferred or discharged within the Scottish Government’s four-hour target, leaving 20,466 people waiting for longer.
A higher proportion of patients waiting longer than four hours has only been recorded once before – in December 2019, when 83.8 per cent were seen.
The figures, published by Public Health Scotland, also reveal 2396 (1.8 per cent) patients were waiting in A&E for more than eight hours and 532 (0.4 per cent) endured a 12-hour wait.
After being checked over at Ninewells, Mark was told his issues were linked to his hiatus hernia and he was given anti-reflux medication and discharged.
Through the night, however, the pain worsened so he travelled back to the Dundee hospital the following day.
He said: “I was having sharp, shooting pains that were so bad I could not keep any food down – it was excruciating.
“I know A&E is always busy but I was shocked about the lack of care I received and the length of time I had to wait.
“I was basically left to sit in the assessment part of the ward from 10am right through to 10pm while crippled over in agony. I could see other people being assisted all around me. I felt invisible.
“I suffer from anxiety, so to be told after 12 hours of waiting that nothing could be done to help, I started to get majorly distressed.”
As it was so late, DJ Mark missed his last connection back to Perth. Fortunately, his girlfriend managed to organise a taxi home.
He said: “I feel disgusted and angry about the lack of care and sheer negligence I received at Ninewells and I am considering taking legal action.”
Asked about Mark’s complaint, a spokesman for NHS Tayside said: “Our clinical team has been in touch with Mr McGregor to discuss his concerns and apologise for his experience.”
Scottish Labour’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie described Mark’s treatment as “absolutely shocking”.
She said: “Humza Yousaf needs to get a grip before this crisis gets any worse and lives are put at risk.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “To minimise pressures, I recently announced £12million in additional funding to health boards across Scotland to support non-Covid emergency care. This immediate action will help put measures in place to reduce waiting times for urgent or emergency treatment, with a focus on boosting staffing levels and available beds.”
