Cole-Hamilton responds to embargoed A&E analysis

Responding to the embargoed analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine that the number of Scots waiting more than 12 hours in A&E is 99 times higher than it was 14 years ago, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“It could not be clearer: the SNP have failed patients and staff across Scotland.

“Despite NHS staff warning of these conditions for years, SNP governments have repeatedly failed to give them the beds and safe staffing they need.

“We’ve seen record numbers of people unable to leave hospital on time because of the crisis in community care. It shows that you cannot fix the NHS crisis without fixing the social care crisis.

“Ultimately, a sustained, long-term plan for our NHS is going to require a change of government.”