A&E stuck in state of permanent crisis under the SNP

Responding to new figures showing that in the week ending 11th January, with only 62.1% of people attending A&E seen within the 4 hour target, while 4,240 (16.3%) people waited over 8 hours and 2,216 (8.5%) waited over 12 hours, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"Under this SNP government our A&E departments are stuck in a state of permanent crisis. Waiting times have remained extreme for years now, and half day waits have gone from a rarity to a common occurrence.

"A&E departments are backed up, because there are so many people who are stuck in hospital and unable to leave because the care package they need is not available.

"Earlier this month I raised the case of Margaret MacGill with the First Minister. She should have been home within 14 weeks, but she’s been in hospital for 14 months.

"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."