![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/nhs-scotland-hospitals-record-worst-ever-ae-waiting-times/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/127555820_94fd03cb32db4f11a7ff142fcc5fcd4f771565ee.jpg&description=Image source, PA MediaImage caption, The Scottish government has been urged to act on waiting timesScottish hospitals have recorded their worst ever accident and emergency waiting times.New figures show that more than 9,600 patients waited over four hours in the emergency department in the final week of October.Just 63.1% of patients were treated and either admitted, transferred or discharged within the target time, according to Public Health Scotland.Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said Covid continued to impact performance.The Scottish government's target is for 95% of those attending in A&E to be dealt with within four hours.But the latest figures showed that in the week ending 30 October, of the 26,052 patients who went to A&E, the four-hour target was missed for 9,617.There were 3,393 patients who were in A&E for eight hours or more, with 1,447 there for a minimum of 12 hours.Labour has urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to sack Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.Mr Yousaf has issued a plea for people to only go to A&E "if their condition is an emergency".He said: "We all have a part to play in reducing pressure on services this winter."Image caption, The health secretary has blamed the pandemic for the failingsBut Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: "The SNP's race to the bottom must be stopped before things get any worse for our A&E departments."For months Scottish Labour has been calling on the Scottish government to get a handle on this crisis, and yet we are continually left with record-breaking failures and nothing but empty words and endless excuses from this hopeless health secretary."Ms Baillie added: "As the real winter crisis approaches, staff are on their knees with exhaustion and they cannot be left to face this crisis alone."Patients are going to have worse health outcomes or even die as a result of not being seen quickly."Scots will be wondering why, as the evidence builds, the first minister seems to turn a blind eye to Humza Yousaf's fail){kind=link}
Scottish hospitals have recorded their worst ever accident and emergency waiting times.
New figures show that more than 9,600 patients waited over four hours in the emergency department in the final week of October.
Just 63.1% of patients were treated and either admitted, transferred or discharged within the target time, according to Public Health Scotland.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said Covid continued to impact performance.
The Scottish government’s target is for 95% of those attending in A&E to be dealt with within four hours.