A&E wait times the worst ever

Pressure on as winter approaches

- KATRINE BUSSEY

ALMOST 5000 patients spent half a day or more in accident and emergency in August, as the waiting time's performance hit a new low.

Monthly figures showed that 69.7 per cent of those attending A&E were seen, resulting in a subsequent admission, transfer, or discharge, within the target time of four hours.

This was even worse than the 69.9 per cent recorded in July, making it the worst ever monthly performance, according to Public Health Scotland's data.

There were 4967 patients who spent more than 12 hours in A&E - the highest monthly total on record.