FM should 'hang head in shame' over A&E waits

CRITICS have said that the First Minister should “hang his head in shame” after new figures revealed that almost one-third of people waited longer than four hours in accident and emergency.

- By Craig Paton

Latest statistics show that 941 patients waited longer than 12 hours before being seen, yet that is the lowest since last September.

Meanwhile, a further 2,472 spent in excess of eight hours until they were dealt with.

Overall, just 68.2% of A&E attendances in the week up to Sunday, July 6 were seen and subsequently admitted or discharged within the four-hour target time.