‘Hapless’ SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf can be revealed as the ‘worst SNP Health Secretary on record’, Jackie Baillie has said.

Scottish Labour has revealed that Mr Yousaf has performed consistently worse than every one of his SNP predecessors on several key metrics bar one covering A&E, waiting times, cancer targets, delayed discharge, CAMHS and the workforce.

The statistics show that, by comparing the latest monthly or quarterly data with that of his four SNP predecessors, under Mr Yousaf:

• A&E and cancer treatment performance has plummeted to record lows
• Waiting times are 100,000s higher than seen by his predecessors
• Delayed discharge is the highest ever on record
• Rising NHS vacancies over 15 years, which is currently at almost 8,000.

The only metric by which Mr Yousaf is not the worst performing Health Minister is CAMHS waiting times – coming second bottom by only 0.1 percent.

With Scotland’s NHS in crisis and senior medics warning that the very existence of our NHS is in doubt, Labour is calling for Mr Yousaf to be removed from office. Staff have lost confidence in his ability to lead the recovery from this crisis.

Dumbarton constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, who is also Scottish Labour’s Health Spokesperson said: “The facts are clear for all to see – the hapless Mr Yousaf is the most incompetent Health Secretary on record.

“From waiting times and A&E to the NHS workforce, Mr Yousaf has broken all the records for failure. The score cards of Mr Yousaf’s predecessors pale in comparison to his incompetence.

“On Mr Yousaf’s watch, our NHS has been plunged into chaos – with lives on the line.

“Some of the worst A&E waiting times have been recorded at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital and I have been contacted by people in West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond who have been forced to wait for longer than should be necessary for medical procedures. They are worried about the impact this will have on their health in the long term as a result. This is dangerous.

“Senior medics are even warning that the very existence of the NHS is in danger.

“It’s time Nicola Sturgeon put the people of Scotland before her party and sacked Mr Yousaf.”