LABOUR has warned that a disaster is unfolding across Scotland’s accident and emergency (A&E) departments after their worst performance on waiting times in six years. 

NHS figures released today found that just 76.5 per cent of people had been seen and subsequently admitted or discharged within the target time of four hours in the week of August 1, despite the Scottish government goal of 95 per cent.

The figure is the lowest available in figures released by Public Health Scotland since February 2015, although previous figures may have dropped further.

A total of 981 patients spent more than eight hours in hospital, while 254 waited longer than 12 hours.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf defended the Edinburgh government’s record on A&E departments, claiming that Scotland has outperformed the rest of the UK for more than six years. 

He said that health boards are in the process of recruiting more staff to help cope with high demand. 

According to Mr Yousaf, reports from hospitals suggest that people reporting to A&E are “much sicker and require higher levels of care.”

He said that staff had faced unprecedented pressures over recent weeks and worked tirelessly and consistently to respond to the pandemic.

But Scottish Labour said that thousands of lives were at risk and the government was nowhere to be seen.

Jackie Baillie, the party’s deputy leader and health spokeswoman, said: “Today’s shocking statistics have laid bare the disaster that is unfolding in our A&E services.

“The SNP needs to get its act together, start listening to front-line staff and patients and remobilise the NHS so that people do not have to end up at the front door of A&E.

“It’s time for the minister to wake up and act before further lives are put at risk.”