10 worst A&E waits on record all occurred on Yousaf’s watch

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today accused the SNP government of letting the crisis in emergency care spiral to “new levels of chaos,” after his party uncovered that the 10 worst weeks for A&E waits on record have all occurred during Humza Yousaf’s time either as First Minister or in his former role as Health Secretary.

Analysis by the Scottish Liberal Democrats found that the 10 worst weekly performances against the key four hour A&E target have all occurred over the past 14 months (since November 2022).

Of these, four occurred during Humza Yousaf’s time as First Minister. The remaining six occurred during Mr Yousaf’s time as Health Secretary, including the worst wait on record in the week ending 18th December 2022 when just 54.8% of patients were seen within 4 hours.  

The 10 worst waits A&E waits on record are for the weeks ending:  

• 18th December 2022, when just 54.8% of people were seen within 4 hours.  
• 1st January 2023 (55.5%).
• 8th January 2023 (57.6%).
• 25th December 2022 (58.4%).
• 5th November 2023 (60.8%).
• 10th December 2023 (60.8%).
• 31st December 2023 (60.8%).
• 17th December 2023 (61.6%).
• 27th November 2022 (61.7%).
• 11th December 2022 (61.9%).

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

“For years, the SNP have allowed the crisis in emergency care to worsen, but on Humza Yousaf's watch we have experienced new levels of chaos.  

“As these figures clearly show, we have a first minister and former health secretary who has presided over the worst waits ever. Scotland’s NHS is now in a perilous state.  

“Staff are working flat out and getting burnt out because they simply don’t have the beds, the safe staffing and the resources that they desperately need.  

“We urgently need to find a way out of this emergency, and that starts with a government that is laser focused on the day job.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would overhaul the NHS Recovery Plan, bring forward an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis and implement measures to tackle burnout among staff.”