Cole-Hamilton: SNP's ministerial disinterest is taking its toll on A&E

Responding to new figures showing only 62% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 21st January, while 3,831 people waited over 8 hours, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"The SNP has allowed the current waiting times we are seeing at A&E to become the new normal. Years of SNP ministerial disinterest are coming home to roost.

"Michael Matheson has been too distracted by salvaging his career to focus on the needs of staff and patients.

"Scotland needs a government 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 which will meaningfully tackle burnout among staff.”