Health Secretary Humza Yousaf’s inaction is risking lives, Scottish Labour has said today, as statistics have shown that the summer crisis in A&E is persisting.

Statistics published today have shown that, during week ending 17 July 2022 only 67.9% of attendances at A&E services were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours.

Shockingly, some 2,413 patients spent more than 8 hours in an A&E department with 901 patients spending more than 12 hours.

NHS Fife has recorded the worst ever figure, with only 54.2% meeting the four-hour target.

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “The crisis in our NHS A&E departments is stubbornly persisting thanks to the inaction of Humza Yousaf.

“Thousands of Scots are now waiting over 8 hours for ‘emergency’ treatment on a weekly basis – this is a scandal.

“Lives are being lost now, but the Health Secretary is missing in action and the SNP government is distracted by constitutional sabre-rattling.

“Overworked and undervalued NHS staff are working to exhaustion but they are being failed by a government that is simply not interested in supporting them in their vital work.

“It’s time the Health Secretary got back to work and did his job by ending this deadly crisis.”