MSPs have expressed their dismay at the latest A&E waiting times figures for Ayrshire and Arran.
Figures for the week ending October 24 show that only 71.7 per cent of those presenting at a local A&E were seen within four hours- the worst figures on record.
And South Scotland Conservative List MSP, Sharon Dowey, says the figures are a 'damning indictment' of Humza Yousaf’s stewardship of the NHS.
The Scottish Government’s target is for 95 per cent of patients is to be met within four hours after arriving at A&E.
However, that is a target which has not been met since July 2020.
Ms Dowey says Humza Yousaf has failed to get on top of the crisis in A&E departments before the peak winter period hits.
She said: “With each passing week, the crisis in accident and emergency departments in NHS Ayrshire and Arran gets worse on Humza Yousaf’s watch.
“These lengthy A&E waiting times prove yet again how the Scottish NHS is at breaking point with Humza Yousaf in charge.
“Frontline staff in NHS Ayrshire and Arran have worked so hard during this pandemic, but they are completely overwhelmed now.
“Humza Yousaf just doesn’t understand the pressure that the people on the ground are facing before the peak winter period hits.
“It’s the staff and the public who are affected most by Humza’s inaction.
“Support from our UK Armed Forces to support NHS services is hugely welcome, but Humza Yousaf was too slow to react to this crisis. He must deal with it now otherwise NHS Ayrshire and Arran will endure a truly dreadful winter.”
Fellow South Scotland Conservative List MSP, Brian Whittle, said: “No-one in the SNP Government, least of all the Health Secretary, seems able to get a grip of the situation and patients are paying the price for it.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “A&E units across Britain have been hit by the direct and indirect impacts of COVID – and every day our incredible A&E staff are treating thousands of people, ensuring those most in need get seen quickest.
“Scotland’s core A&E departments continue to outperform those in the rest of the UK, and have done so for more than six years.
"However, we recognise some people aren’t getting the service they, or we, would expect and we apologise to anyone who has suffered as a result.
“The Health Secretary has been very clear this will be the most difficult winter in NHS history and that’s why we’ve announced £300 million of measures to increase NHS and social care capacity as part of our strategy to simultaneously tackle the various issues combining in extra A&E waits.
“This includes co-ordinated work to reduce the time people need to spend in hospital so that others can be admitted quickly.
"It also includes the deployment of expert physio and occupational therapy staff at A&E units to help triage people best treated elsewhere.”
Professor Hazel Borland, interim chief executive for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: “We would like to apologise to any patients who have had to wait longer than we would normally expect to be admitted to an appropriate bed. Our urgent and unscheduled care services in both University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse are under extreme pressure at this time.”
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