A&E crisis is desperate and devastating

Responding to figures which reveal that just 64% of people were seen within 4 hours at A&E in the week ending 12th November, with 13% waiting more than 8 hours, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  

“The crisis in our emergency departments is devastating. Humza Yousaf’s failed Recovery Plan is bringing staff to their knees and leaving patients in pain.  

“Everyone on the frontline knows that the situation is desperate. Despite many shifts being dangerously understaffed, SNP and Green ministers have sat on their hands.  

“Michael Matheson must be laser focused on the day job and put the voices of staff first. That means completely overhauling his predecessor’s botched plan, bringing forward an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis and implementing measures which will meaningfully tackle burnout among staff.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

You can find the full figures here