Cole-Hamilton: Conveyor belt of broken SNP promises on A&E trudges on

Responding to new figures showing that only 64.5% of patients attending A&E were seen within the four-hour target time, with just 41.4% seen on time in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:    

“Humza Yousaf told the Scottish people that his NHS Recovery Plan would see improvements made in tackling the crisis in our A&E departments. Despite the hype, as is so common with this government, waiting times have spiralled and the conveyor belt of broken promises trudges along. On his watch, we have seen the worst A&E wait times on record.    

"The Scottish public will undoubtedly be asking what Humza Yousaf would actually do differently as First Minister, yet three weeks into this contest and we have heard nothing new from him on how the NHS will be supported.

“He should stop opposing Scottish Liberal Democrat constructive proposals, such as an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis, a Burnout Prevention Strategy and a Health and Social Care Staff Assembly.    

“There are thousands of people every week waiting interminably for treatment, and every one of them is being taken for granted by this government. The SNP and its leadership candidates need to stop obsessing over reckless schemes for separation and ease the boiling point pressures facing our NHS.”