Cole-Hamilton: SNP not focused on crisis in A&E

Responding to new figures showing that just 65.6% of attendees at A&E were seen within 4 hours and 15,107 attendees waited more than 8 hours in December 2023, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton criticised a lack of focus from the SNP government in dealing with this crisis.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

"Scotland needs a government laser focused on the day job.

"Unfortunately Health Secretary Michael Matheson has been too distracted by trying to salvage his career to focus on the needs of staff and patients.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats would overhaul the NHS Recovery Plan, bring forward an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis and implement measures which will meaningfully tackle burnout among staff.”