Worst October on record at A&E

Responding to new figures showing only 66.8% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in October (the worst on record), while 17,208 people waited over 8 hours and 7,611 waited over 12 hours, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"After a record-breaking August and September for long waits at A&E, this SNP government have broken yet another record in October.

"To make matters worse, since the SNP came to power it is the longest waits that have increased the most, with more than 7,500 people waiting more than 12 hours at A&E in October. In October 2007 this figure was just 12 people, that is an astronomical increase.

"We need to see the Scottish Government start taking serious action to support the staff facing these pressure cooker conditions. Scotland's A&E patients deserve better - and with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for change with fairness at its heart."