THE number of patients waiting more than eight hours at A&Es in Scotland has increased to the highest level since January, figures showed today.

Public Health Scotland data shows that as many as 3,818 people waited more than eight hours to be either admitted or discharged in the week to December 10 — soaring by 1,000 in just one week.

The figures also showed that progress in cutting those waiting for 12 hours for treatment has reversed, growing to 1,693, the highest number since last month.

The Scottish government’s target of 95 per cent of patients being seen within four hours has plummeted to just 60.9 per cent.

And the statistics reveal that cancer waiting times have soared, with the 62-day standard being missed by every NHS health board.

Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “These statistics should be sounding the alarm throughout government and plainly show that Scotland is in the grip of a cancer care crisis.