‘Atrocious’ A&E figures show worst November on record for waiting times in Scotland

Ministers have come under fire over “atrocious” waiting-times figures in Scotland’s accident and emergency departments – with new data showing the worst November on record for waits.

In that month alone some 45,665 patients were in the emergency room for longer than the target time of four hours before being either admitted, transferred or discharged.

This includes 17,745 patients – 13.2% of all cases dealt with in accident and emergency that month – who were there for a minimum of eight hours.

Meanwhile, 8,287 patients – 5.7% of cases – were there for 12 hours or more, the latest Public Health Scotland data showed.

Over the course of November, about two-thirds of patients (66.7%) in A&E were seen and then either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours – the same proportion as the previous month but well below the Scottish Government target of 95%.

Compliance with the A&E waiting times target has “been below 80% since summer 2021”, Public Health Scotland noted.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “These atrocious statistics prove that our NHS was in meltdown under the SNP even before the height of winter.

“This was the worst November on record in Scotland’s A&E wards, with thousands of patients waiting more than 12 hours.

“It makes a mockery of John Swinney’s claim that the health service is improving.

“We know that these horrific delays cost lives. Frontline staff are working tirelessly for their patients but they’ve been left firefighting because of the SNP’s dire workforce planning.”

Hitting out at the First Minister – who made a pre-election speech on Scottish independence on Monday – Dr Gulhane said: “John Swinney should be throwing the kitchen sink at this crisis. Instead, he spent Monday banging on about independence yet again.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton was also critical, saying: “Every month, the SNP are presiding over record-long waits at A&E – this is now the worst-ever November for A&E waiting times.

“On the SNP’s watch, half-a-day waits have gone from a rare occurrence to the new normal.

“A&E departments are backed up because hospitals are rammed. Hospitals are rammed because there are so many people stuck there who should be in care homes or looked after at home. It shows that you cannot fix the NHS without fixing social care.

“Scotland’s A&E patients deserve better.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.

Published: 06/01/2026 by Radio NewsHub