SCOTTISH Health Secretary Neil Gray should not resign if key NHS waiting times targets are missed again, according to First Minister John Swinney.

In 2025, the Scottish government pledged to completely eradicate waits of over a year by March 2026, but official figures for January showed 50,000 open waits of more than 12 months.

The figures leave the Scottish government with an uphill battle to reach its goal, with March’s figures due to be published just weeks before Scotland goes to the polls.

Asked if Mr Gray should resign if the target is missed, Mr Swinney said “no,” adding: “People can make their judgment, but let me tell you the progress that’s been made.

“For eight months in a row, we’ve seen a fall in long waits in outpatients and for treatment time guarantee patients.

“We’re seeing huge falls in the level of long waits that are in place.”

Arguing that ultimately the buck stopped with him as first minister, Mr Swinney insisted: “I’m responsible for everything that goes on in my government, and we’re making progress in the National Health Service.”