SNP accused of leaving A&E in a 'shameful and unacceptable' condition

More than 300,000 patients waited more than four hours to be seen in A&E over the past three summers – exceeding the previous 13 combined.

The SNP has been accused of leaving the NHS in a ‘shameful’ and ‘unacceptable’ condition after the figures were revealed.

Summer months are traditionally quieter in emergency departments, but they are now under pressure all year round because hospitals are at capacity.

It follows revelations that the NHS is running out of blankets and sheets in A&E wards.

The Scottish Conservatives, who collated the figures from official Public Health Scotland statistics, rounded on Humza Yousaf, who was either health secretary or First Minister when the delays spiralled out of control in 2021-23.