Almost 60,000 people in Highland forced to wait over four hours in A&E

Almost 60,000 people have waited more than four hours in A&E since the last time the Scottish Government's target was hit over four years ago, figures have revealed, prompting Scottish Liberal Democrat demands for action. 

The Scottish Government aims for 95% of people each week to be seen and subsequently admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in A&E. However, that figure has not been hit in the Highlands since the week of 9 May 2021, a total of 219 weeks.

According to new analysis by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, since the target was last hit, 59,489 across NHS Highland waited four hours or more. Elsewhere, 14,000 people waited more than 12 hours during that period and 5,299 people waited longer than eight hours.

As recently as February this year, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) - the body which sets and monitors standards in A&E departments - warned there needed to be a "whole system approach" to fixing the problems across Scotland.

The intervention follows similar reports of NHS services under pressure with Inverness' Raigmore Hospital declaring "code black" warnings about major impacts on its services on 104 days between the year between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

Code black is the highest level in a system used by health boards when one or more services are at capacity. Some operations and appointments can be postponed to help relieve pressures on staff.

David Green, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland & Ross, said:

"Our doctors and nurses are working extremely hard to provide the best possible care, but they are not being given the resources they need.

"The state of A&E waiting times is deeply concerning, all the more so when you consider the long distances travelled to reach A&E. We have seen the SNP reheat failing plans for too long, it isn't working.

"We must remember that behind every statistic is a patient waiting for what must feel like an eternity. Communities in the Far North deserve so much better, starting with tackling the challenges in social care to help increase access to hospital beds.”

Neil Alexander, the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Inverness and Nairn, added:

"A&E services in the Highlands have been in trouble for years. Staff are stuck working under pressure cooker conditions and patients are stuck having to wait hours for vital care. 

"People in Inverness and Nairn have seen multiple Health Secretaries come and go without a dent being made. If you're frustrated with the SNP making you wait to access our local NHS services, vote Scottish Liberal Democrats on your regional ballot next May and turf them out.

“Alongside efforts to alleviate the pressure on A&E and ambulance staff, we need to invest in social care services to get people out of hospital and free up space. That's why Scottish Liberal Democrats fought for more money for social care in the budget and are backing a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The analysis is pulled from Public Health Scotland’s “Accident and emergency” official statistics here: Emergency departments - Main points - Accident and emergency - Urgent and unscheduled care - Healthcare system - Public Health Scotland

A recent freedom of information request by the Scottish Liberal Democrats recently found that in 2024, 337 people aged over 85 waited more than 12 hours at A&E departments in the Highlands. These long waits affected 8.7% of all over 85s who attended A&E in the Highlands.