Cole-Hamilton: A&E pressure cooker will only lead to staff burnout

Responding to new figures showing only 65.3% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 16th February, while 2,709 people waited over 8 hours and 1,061 waited over 12 hours, Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"Under the SNP, A&E departments seem to be stuck in a state of permanent crisis. These pressure cooker conditions for staff will only end one way: mass burnout.

“What's worse is that the SNP's NHS Recovery Plan has completely failed to improve conditions - if anything, they have gotten worse since it was introduced.

“We cannot cut A&E waits if we don't fix the problems in social care and free up space in hospital. That's why, as well as tackling burnout among staff, Scottish Liberal Democrats would help people leave hospital on time and access care packages with a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.”