Worsening 8 and 12 hour waits the new norm at A&E under the SNP

Responding to new figures showing only 63.9% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 5th October, while 3,667 people waited over 8 hours and 1,604 waited over 12 hours, both higher than the previous week, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"Under the SNP we have seen 8 and 12 hour waits become the norm at A&E, but these waits used to be vanishingly rare.

"We need to see action now from the SNP Government to relieve the massive pressure on staff before winter arrives.

"Fixing the problems in social care would help to increase capacity in hospitals and help to tackle these A&E waits. 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.

"Wherever you are, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot will deliver change with fairness at its heart.

"Because Scotland's A&E patients deserves better - and with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for it."