Waiting times scandal of NHS in 'meltdown'

THE NHS is “in meltdown” under John Swinney’s watch, the Tories said yesterday, after the latest damning figures.

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

The number of people waiting more than four, eight and 12 hours in A&E all rose last week.

A staggering 2,956 people waited more than eight hours, 12% of all A&E visits.

Meanwhile, a record 879,215 people are trapped on diagnostic, outpatient or inpatient lists — a sixth of the population. The Public Health Scotland report shows 108,296 patients waiting over a year.

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Other damning statistics showed that the number of people waiting for a social care assessment for a package of care rose by 14% over the last year to 7,438.

Critics highlighted the figures as a sign the Scottish Government is failing those most in need.

Shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “After nearly two decades of chronic SNP mismanagement, the backlog in our NHS has spiralled out of control, with one in six Scots trapped on a waiting list. The SNP promised to reduce waiting times but these shocking figures show this is yet another broken promise.