PATIENTS arriving at A&E departments who do not need to be there are costing the NHS at least £33 million a year, according to new figures.

Figures published by Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland show each casualty visit in 2015/16 cost the health service £118.

But according to the Scottish Conservatives, around one in six attendances is unnecessary and says that at last year’s £118-per-visit cost, a total of £32,792,495 was spent dealing with needless admissions.

The Scottish Government has tried to reduce A&E admissions including diverting people to minor injury services and encouraging the use of NHS 24.

ISD Scotland says the average cost of each appointment has risen from £106 three years ago to £118 in 2015/16. When all A&E admissions are totalled, the Tories say the cost to the NHS was £197,327,000 last year.

Donald Cameron, Scottish Conservative health spokesman, said: “No-one blames people for going to A&E when they’re concerned for their own or a family member’s health. But it’s clear more needs to be done to promote other, more suitable options for those with less serious medical needs.”

The Scottish Government said it had invested £12m this year to improve patients’ experience by ensuring they are seen by the right person at the right time and supporting patients to remain in their own home.

A spokeswoman said: “These figures are not accurate because the cost of treating a patient who does not need A&E level care is much less than treating a patient who is seriously injured and needs emergency care.”