Medically vulnerable patients are being put at risk on overflowing wards amid a growing A&E crisis, MSPs have warned. One patient has told the Sunday Mail that the Medical Day Unit (MDU) at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital - which provides chemotherapy, intravenous infusions and blood transfusions - is also being used for emergency cases, creating an infection danger.
Record A&E waits in August
Her concerns come as new figures revealed the number of patients waiting more than four hours in Scotland's A&E departments reached a record high in August. Public Health Scotland figures showed just 66.7 per cent of A&E patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours during the month.
That meant 50,747 cases missed the four-hour target - up from the previous record of 49,538 in December 2022. The Scottish Government target is for 95 per cent of patients to be seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.
Patient describes infection risk
The patient said: "As a regular patient at the Medical Day Unit, this has been a worry for a long time. It was never meant to be an inpatient ward. People with all sorts of illnesses are being brought in to fill beds, along with immunocompromised patients like myself who are possibly in for a biopsy, transfusion or infusion."
"The Medical Day Unit at the QEUH is supposed to be used as just that - a day unit - and is for procedures on vulnerable patients who, like myself, may need it as a lifeline. But it is once again being used as an overspill with patients from A&E. These procedures are necessary, like blood transfusions, liver and lung biopsies. Why are people with no immunity being mixed with people with all sorts of illnesses?"
Political reaction
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "Vulnerable patients should not be put in this situation or cared for in corridors as a result of overcrowding in A&E. Far too many people are stuck for hours waiting to be seen in A&E, ambulances are piling up outside waiting to admit patients, and staff are being pushed to breaking point. We must properly resource our NHS and give hardworking staff the support they need. That means taking urgent steps to improve waiting times at A&E."
Scottish Conservative health and care spokesman Miles Briggs MSP added: "This is the terrifying reality in Scotland's flagship hospital for patients because the SNP have no credible plan to deal with record A&E waiting times. Patients should not be put at risk of infection because ministers have allowed NHS overcrowding to spiral out of control. Scotland has just recorded its worst ever monthly A&E waits, yet John Swinney still has no answer to this crisis. Enough is enough. SNP ministers must take responsibility and finally lay out a plan to end the crisis in A&E."
Health board response
An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokeswoman said the MDU may be used for inpatient care during periods of high demand. She said: "As is the case across the country, our hospitals and A&E departments are very busy right now. During periods of high demand, inpatient care may be temporarily delivered within the Medical Day Unit (MDU). The MDU is used for a variety of purposes. We recognise the importance of timely treatment."
