Welsh NHS learning from Scottish success to improve performance

As winter approaches, the NHS in Wales is preparing for a spike in demand, but it is already failing to meet key UK-wide performance targets on the number of patients spending less than four hours or less in an emergency department.

The target is for 95% of patients to spend less than four hours in accident an emergency. Last month, the figure for the whole of Wales stood at 84.5%

As part of special coverage, ITV Wales has been given unrestricted access to an emergency department in Scotland, which is managing to hit its A&E targets.

Monklands hospital, just outside Glasgow, is part of NHS Lanarkshire. Its most recent performance figures show that 96.9% of its 5,777 admissions in August spent four hours or less in the emergency department. In November 2014, this hospital was ensuring around 86% of patients spent less than four hours in A&E.

The Welsh Government says it is learning from Scotland's success and is working hard to improve A&E performance.