Worst February ever for A&E waits

Responding to new figures showing that the numbers of people waiting more than 4, 8 and 12 hours at A&E in February were the highest ever for that month, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 

“We are disturbingly used to huge waits at A&E, which shows just how commonplace the SNP’s failures have become.

“The only way to bring down waits is to fix the broken care system- that is what Scottish Liberal Democrats have been saying from the very start. 

“There are not enough beds in A&E because there are no longer the beds in longer-term wards to move patients to. Too many beds in longer-term wards are occupied by people who are medically ready to leave but can’t because the shortages of care workers and care packages won’t let them. 

“That’s why I am up in Wick today, speaking to Margaret MacGill, who was in hospital for over 14 months, when she should have been home in 14 weeks. 

“In May, you should back the Scottish Liberal Democrats on your second, peach, regional ballot paper to reward care workers and free up vital space in A&Es.”