Dame Jackie Baillie, Health Secretary Michael Matheson, LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and First Minister and former Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.
By Lucy Ashton
An average of almost 17 patients per day waited for eight hours or longer at Paisley’s RAH A&E during the week ending August 13th.
The number rocketed to 117 from 73 the previous week and follows a nationwide trend which has seen waits of eight hours or more rise significantly in recent weeks. In comparison, on the week ending June 25th, 33 people waited for eight hours or more.
Dumbarton MSP Dame Jackie Baillie said: “The figures clearly show that our A&E crisis continues unabated – with people from Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond being put in danger as a result.
“That the number of people having to endure long waits of over eight hours to be seen and then admitted, transferred or discharged at the RAH emergency department has more than trebled in a month is nothing short of shocking.
“Instead of spending his time trying to score cheap political points, Mr Matheson should wake up to the deadly crisis unfolding on his watch. He urgently needs to focus on putting the interests of patients and staff first and tackle delayed discharge, which is crippling the NHS.
“NHS staff are working tirelessly but are being left high and dry by this tired SNP government.”
Jackie Baillie said: “The figures clearly show that our A&E crisis continues unabated – with the people of Scotland being put in danger as a result.
“That the number of people having to endure long waits of over 8 hours in A&E to be seen and then admitted, transferred or discharged has doubled in only three weeks is nothing short of shocking.
“Instead of spending his time trying to score cheap political points, Mr Matheson should wake up to the deadly crisis unfolding on his watch. He urgently needs to focus on putting the interests of patients and staff first and tackle delayed discharge, which is crippling the NHS.
“NHS staff are working tirelessly but are being left high and dry by this tired SNP government.”
Responding to the new figures showing only 65.6% of A&E attendees were seen within the 4-hour target, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The fact that A&E wait times are worsening before we even get to the autumn is a grim portent of things to come unless the SNP start focusing on the crisis in A&E.
“There is no shortage of goodwill and dedication on the part of NHS staff, but they don’t have the beds, safe staffing and resources they need.
“As health secretary Humza Yousaf comprehensively failed to get to grips with the crisis in our A&E departments, and now his government is not showing the focus needed to address this crisis.
“Michael Matheson must start taking action by dropping his government’s opposition to our constructive proposals such as an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis, a staff burnout prevention strategy and a health and social care staff assembly.”