Waiting times blast for SNP

The SNP government has been accused of changing waiting times targets for accident and emergency patients with “a spectacular sleight of hand”.

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said the target of having 98 per cent of all patients in A&E units treated in four hours has been dropped in favour of a 95 per cent target. She attacked health secretary Alex Neil on the issue after figures last week revealed there were 323 cases in December where patients in A&E waited for more than 12 hours.

National standards say at least 98 per cent of people in A&E should be either admitted or transferred for treatment, or discharged, within four hours. The figures show this was achieved for 90.3 per cent of patients.