Michael Matheson must act now to tackle the continuing NHS crisis as thousands of Scots have been left ‘high and dry’ in waiting rooms while delayed discharge remains at unacceptably high levels.

Statistics published this week have revealed that at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital more than a third of people (37.9 percent) who have attended since the start of the year have had to wait longer than the Scottish Government target of four hours.

The number of people having to wait longer than the four-hour standard has also risen from 6330 last year to 6542 during the same period this year (January to April inclusive).

At the same time, statistics show a month on month increase in the number of bed days lost to delayed discharge and levels remain far higher than pre-pandemic levels, with 162,604 days spent in hospital by people across Scotland whose discharge was delayed within the first three months of 2023 alone – a startling 26.9 percent increase on the same period in 2019.

BMA Scotland has repeatedly said that the NHS crisis cannot be resolved without ending delayed discharge with Dr Iain Kennedy stating: “The key to unlocking the front door of our hospitals lies at the back door. The exit block is the real reason for many of the issues at the front door of our hospitals.”

Dumbarton constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, said: “Michael Matheson inherited an NHS in crisis from Humza Yousaf – but it is all too clear that he is failing to get the situation under control.

“That the number of people waiting longer than the Scottish Government target time within A&E at the RAH including many people from Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond, has risen year on year is extremely concerning. Lives are at risk due to this SNP government’s chronic failure to support frontline NHS staff.

“Despite warning after warning that the issue of delayed discharge is at the root of our NHS crisis, this SNP government has failed to heed the BMA and act.

“Thousands of people have been left high and dry by this failed SNP government and their failure to act to end delayed discharge.

“More of the same failure simply won’t cut it – it’s high time we got this deadly crisis under control, fix delayed discharge and invest in primary and social care to take the burden off of A&E.

“Matheson must act now to support heroic NHS staff and end this NHS crisis once and for all.”