Scots waiting 12 hours in A&E at worst level since March, figures show

The number of Scots waiting more than 12 hours in A&E is at its worst level since March, new figures show.

Statistics released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday show 5.4% of attendees at emergency departments in the week up to September 7 waited more than half a day.

The last time the figures were worse was March 2, when 5.8% waited longer than 12 hours.

The number of people waiting longer than eight hours was also at its worst level since the week up to March 2, sitting at 13.3% compared to the spring figure of 13.6%.

Meanwhile, the number of people seen within four hours dropped to the lowest level since February, falling to 63.1% compared to 65% the week before.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the figures were “appalling”, and “blow apart” claims from Health Secretary Neil Gray that his plan for the NHS is working.

“The Health Secretary is detached from reality,” he said.

“Week after week, thousands of patients are waiting over four hours in A&E on their watch.

“The SNP has churned out plan after plan – every single one has failed. And because of their incompetence, patients are dying needlessly.

“Frontline staff are working flat-out for their patients, but they’ve been left high and dry by the SNP’s dire workforce planning and Humza Yousaf’s flimsy recovery plan.

“Winter is approaching and our NHS is on the brink of catastrophe. Neil Gray must ditch the spin and back our bold plans to slash bureaucracy, cut the number of middle managers and divert resources to the frontline.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton pushed for Government action before increased winter pressures on the health service take hold.

“Once again under this SNP government we have arrived into the autumn to find A&E waiting times already dangerously long,” he said.

“The Scottish Government must act now to prevent a looming winter crisis in A&E.

“It’s creating a pressure cooker for staff that can only end in mass burnout.

“Too many people are stuck unable to leave hospital because they can’t get the care package they need to leave safely.

“That is causing longer waits at A&E because hospitals are stuck at capacity.

“Fixing the problems in social care would help to increase capacity in hospitals and help to tackle these A&E waits.”

Responding to the figures, Mr Gray admitted performance was “below the level we all wish to see”.

“Scotland’s core A&E departments have consistently outperformed those in England and Wales over the past decade,” he said.

“Latest monthly A&E figures show July 2025 had the lowest number of eight and 12-hour waits for any month since September 2023.

“However, latest weekly performance is below the level we all wish to see – we are working closely with boards to drive improvement and provide the support they need to cope with peaks in demand.

“Our investment of £200 million will help reduce waiting times, improve hospital flow, and minimise delayed discharges.

“To help shift the balance of care from acute to community we are delivering direct access to specialist frailty teams in every A&E and expanding Hospital at Home to at least 2,000 beds by the end of 2026.”