The dangerous chaos in Scotland’s A&E departments has continued apace as embattled health secretary Michael Matheson continues to cling on to his job.

The statistics show that for the week ending on the 12th of November 2023, an astonishing 44 people, equivalent to more than six patients a day waited for more than 12 hours in the A&E department of Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. Across Scotland the figure was 1,438 patients waiting more than 12 hours.

The emergency unit where patients from Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond attend was also well below the national average for people being seen within the four-hour target time.

While 64 percent of attendances across Scotland resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours, the figure for the RAH was just 58.6 percent.

Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie said: “While Michael Matheson fights a desperate rear-guard action to protect his ministerial salary, the situation in our A&E departments remains dire.

“It is simply shocking that 1,438 patients across Scotland waited over half a day at A&E in just one week with 44 of them waiting at the RAH in Paisley. The hospital, which sees people from Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond is below par for patients being attended to within the four-hour target time.

“NHS staff are working tirelessly but they are being let down by this incompetent, scandal-struck SNP government.

“Only by tackling delayed discharge and the crisis in social care, which is putting pressure on NHS services, and addressing chronic workforce issues, can we get A&E back on its feet.”