Rise in number of Scots being seen in A&E within four hours, figures show

The Scottish Government has been accused of failing to deal with the “crisis” in hospitals after figures showed about a third of Scots are continuing to wait more than four hours in A&E.

Data from Public Health Scotland found that 67.2% of type 1 emergency department patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in the week ending April 6.

The figure is a slight decrease from 67.3% the week before but is higher than the 64.7% average of 2024.

The proportion of patients waiting more than eight hours in A&E also decreased slightly week-on-week, from 10.4% to 9.9%. The 2024 average was 12.5%.

The percentage of people waiting more than a dozen hours decreased from 4% to 3.7%. The figure is lower than the 2024 average of 5.6%.

The Scottish Conservatives described the figures as “dismal”.

Brian Whittle, the party’s public health spokesperson, said: “We’re now in April and still seeing waiting figures that would be unacceptable in the peak of winter demand.

“While patients wait in overcrowded A&Es and parked on trolleys in corridors, the SNP are only offering the same old excuses and re-hashed versions of plans that have already failed.

“Scotland’s NHS needs a new plan to deal with these waiting times.

“Sadly, it seems the only plans Neil Gray and his SNP colleagues are interested in making is how to spend their £20,000 pay rise.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie added: “Once again, thousands of Scots have experienced first-hand the chaos engulfing hospital corridors.

“The incompetent SNP has had 18 years to ensure our NHS is fit for the future but instead it has run it down.

“Scottish Labour will restore the family doctor, reduce waiting lists and tackle the social care crisis so that patients who are forced to go to A&E know they will be quickly seen and treated.”

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.