2.4 million people wait over 4 hours at A&E since target last met

As he marked six years since the SNP government last met its key four-hour A&E waiting times target, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Adam Harley MSP has revealed that the target has been missed for a colossal 2.4 million people.

The Scottish Government has a target for 95% of patients attending A&Es to be seen, admitted, discharged or transferred within 4 hours.

This weekend marks six years since that target was last met.

Scottish Liberal Democrats analysed the numbers of people waiting between July 2020 and July 2026.

The analysis reveals that at A&E departments in that period:

• 2,442,699 people have waited over 4 hours at A&E.
• 778,731 people have waited over 8 hours at A&E.
• 322,324 people have waited over 12 hours at A&E.

The party also revealed that May 2026 was the worst May on record for waiting times at A&Es, with 16,612 people waiting over 8 hours and 6,978 waiting over 12 hours.

Adam Harley said:

“The scale of these waits is deeply concerning. Six years on from the target last being met, the figures show the situation is getting worse, not better.

“I speak to so many people who now expect to spend hours waiting in A&E. That should never become accepted as normal.

“When the SNP came to power, waits of more than 12 hours were exceptionally rare. Today, they have become a regular feature of emergency care in Scotland. Long delays leave patients waiting in pain and distress, and risk putting people off seeking help.

“A lot of this comes down to the neglect of social care. Nurses and doctors can’t get people through A&E because far too many hospital beds are occupied by people who are medically ready to leave but can’t because the care package they need isn’t available.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to encourage more people into caring professions and boost pay and conditions for care workers so that everyone is seen in good time and we get our NHS back on track.”