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Ninewells’ emergency department has been named the top performing A&E in the UK.

Despite NHS A&E waiting times in Scotland still failing to attain the Scottish Government’s performance targets, Ninewells and NHS Tayside’s emergency departments consistently exceed the 95% four-hour waiting goal.

Even with the extra pressures placed upon the health service of the festive period, staff still managed to process 96.3% of patients who attended the emergency department within four hours.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, there were 2,730 attendances in the emergency departments in Tayside.

Last week it was revealed A&E targets in Scotland were at their second-lowest level since 2007.

NHS Tayside chief executive Grant Archibald said: “I am extremely proud NHS Tayside consistently achieves the four-hour target.

“This is as a result of the dedicated staff within the emergency department and the wider multi-disciplinary teams right across the organisation and also our colleagues in the Health and Social Care Partnerships, councils and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

“NHS Tayside has always performed well against national unscheduled care performance standards and we are all committed to maintaining and striving to improve this performance.

“This year’s Winter Plan details a whole system response to the additional demand. By investing in services and beds, improving access to care and changing the ways in which patients are assessed, admitted and discharged, we are maintaining services and responding to any challenges quickly.

“This means our patients are being seen quickly by the right person in the right place.”

On Monday Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf visited Ninewells to launch the Navigator programme, which helps patients affected by violent and chaotic lifestyles as soon as they present at emergency departments.

The service, run by the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and Medics Against Violence, has helped almost 2,000 people to date in other areas of Scotland since its inception in 2015.

Mr Yousaf said: “This will have a real impact and it will hopefully reduce the revolving door of violence.

“Navigators do a remarkable job, helping to support people often living in difficult circumstances, to receive support that can truly be life changing. Their interventions in emergency departments have a massive impact on the individual and also benefit their families and the wider community.

“The bespoke and personal approach taken by Scotland’s Navigators ensures that some of the most vulnerable patients within emergency departments can get access to the help and support that is right for them.

“I am delighted to see this service extended to Ninewells where our Navigators can make a real difference.”