2nd worst week on record at A&E

Responding to new figures showing the second worst week at A&E on record in the week ending the 11th January, with only 59.2% of people attending A&E seen within the 4 hour target, while 4,874 (19%) people waited over 8 hours and 2,727 (10.6%) waited over 12 hours, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"Despite all the spin from the SNP, we are still seeing some of the worst waiting times at A&E of all time. When the SNP came to power, half day waits were a rarity, they're now happening to thousands of people every single week.

"A&E departments are backed up, because there are so many people like Margaret MacGill, who are stuck in hospital and unable to leave because the care package they need is not available. I raised her case with the First Minister, as Margaret should have been home within 14 weeks, but she’s been in hospital for 14 months.

"It all goes to show that you cannot fix the NHS and bring down A&E waits without fixing social care.

"Scotland's A&E patients deserve better - and with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for change with fairness at its heart.