LABOUR has accused the SNP Scottish government of “negligence” after it emerged that soaring A&E waits could be costing thousands of lives.

The latest statistics released by Public Health Scotland (PHS) show that, in the week ending December 8, less than three in every five (59.7 per cent) patients presenting at accident and emergency departments were either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

Despite the target remaining at 95 per cent to be seen within four hours, it has only been met at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic four years ago, a failure that Scottish Labour argues is now causing deaths.

PHS figures found that a staggering 147,223 languished for more than eight hours in Scotland’s A&E departments between January and October this year, a figure that the party argues could be linked to as many as 2,045 excess deaths.

Demanding action by SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray to tackle the crisis, Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: “For all the stories of exhausting and anxious waits in Scotland’s emergency departments, there are those who never lived to tell the tale.

“The SNP’s negligence is doing more than causing frustration — they are gambling with Scots’ lives.

“The UK Labour government has delivered a record budget settlement for Scotland, but it’s up to the SNP to ensure it goes on front-line services so that every patient has an equal chance of getting the treatment they need.”

Mr Gray responded: “My sympathies go to anyone bereaved after loved ones endured long A&E waits.

“We’ve always recognised the relationship between long A&E waits and increased risk of harm, which is why we remain committed to delivering improved performance.

“Health services everywhere face huge pressure following the pandemic — and ours is no exception.

“The number of deaths from all causes in all locations, however, is lower than we would expect to see based on historic trends, according to National Records of Scotland.”

As the SNP government continues battling to win backing for its draft budget ahead of a crunch vote in February, Mr Gray added: “Our draft 2025-26 Scottish budget provides record funding of £21 billion for health and social care, if approved by the Scottish Parliament, with NHS boards receiving an additional £2bn to deliver key front-line services like A&E.”