Humza Yousaf must urgently guarantee that no patient will be waiting 12 hours or more to be seen at A&E.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane’s call comes after the latest weekly statistics showed almost 600 patients waited half a day or more to be treated at A&E.
Analysis by the Scottish Conservatives has revealed the number of patients waiting half a day or more to be seen has more than quadrupled since the start of 2021.
The number waiting this long has also more than doubled since Scotland prepared to move beyond level zero restrictions in August.
Dr Gulhane says Humza Yousaf has failed to get on top of a spiralling crisis in the NHS, and urged him to produce a proper winter plan to support staff who are beyond breaking point.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, said: “Waiting times in our A&E departments have spiralled out of control on Humza Yousaf’s watch. The number of patients waiting beyond the SNP’s own target time of four hours to be treated is bad enough.
“What is truly appalling is the shocking increase in those waiting 12 hours or more to be seen. Humza Yousaf failed to admit there was a crisis in our NHS. The reality is that waits of half a day or more for patients in A&E have now more than quadrupled since January.
“That is simply unacceptable. My colleagues on the frontline are beyond breaking point and no patient should have to wait for more than half a day at an A&E department just to be seen.
“Humza Yousaf’s belated winter plan last week failed to even mention the pressures and outrageously long waits in A&E.
“If Humza Yousaf doesn’t fully support A&E services immediately, then the number of patients waiting 12 hours or more could skyrocket during the peak winter period.”
Notes: 591 patients waited 12 hours or to be seen in the week ending 3 October: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics-week-ending-3-october-2021/
127 patients waited more than 12 hours to be seen in the week ending 3 January: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics-week-ending-3-january-2021/
254 patients spent 12 hours or more in the week ending 8 August: https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics-week-ending-8-august-2021/