Cole-Hamilton: We cannot fix A&E waits without fixing social care

Responding to new figures showing only 63.5% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 2nd March, while 3,532 people waited over 8 hours and 1,510 waited over 12 hours, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"For years under the SNP our A&E departments have been left mired in crisis and it's leading to staff burning out.

"The problem at A&E is that there isn't enough capacity. Too many people are stuck unable to leave hospital because they can't get the care package they need to leave safely.

"We cannot fix these A&E waits without fixing the problems in social care to create the capacity needed to get people seen on time. That's why Scottish Liberal Democrats fought for more money for social care in the budget and back a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.”