Jackie Baillie has told how SNP inaction has forced our A&E departments into ‘perpetual crisis’ as the latest figures continue to show A&E services for local people among the worst performers.

For the week ending 22nd May, less than two thirds of people who attended at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley were seen within the four-hour target time set by the Scottish Government.

This was well below the national average of 70.2% of attendances at A&E services who were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours.

Some 121 people waited upwards of eight hours and 24 faced a wait of more than 12 hours when presenting at the emergency department where people from West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond attend.

Humza Yousaf’s clear failure to act to support NHS workers have forced A&E departments into ‘perpetual crisis’, says the Dumbarton constituency MSP.

Jackie Baillie said: “Despite warning after warning, SNP failure has turned a winter A&E crisis into a perpetual crisis which is set to persist.

“Day in, day out hundreds of Scots are put in danger due to the government’s catastrophic failure to support front-line staff. The RAH in Paisley continues to be one of the worst affected hospitals in the country, despite the efforts of the hard-working staff there.

“This simply cannot be allowed to continue – if it does lives will be lost.

“Humza Yousaf needs to end his dangerous inaction and act to support our heroic A&E staff.”