South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has warned that A&E services are becoming stuck in a state of “permanent crisis” under the SNP, as weekly performance figures show once again, none of the south of Scotland’s health boards met targets.

The Scottish Government set a legally binding target of 95% of patients being admitted to the hospital, transferred or discharged within four hours of arriving at A&E.

Hundreds of patients across the region spent over eight hours in A&E, with many waiting over 12 hours for treatment.

Colin Smyth said: “Week after week accident and emergency rooms across the south of Scotland are in chaos, despite the tireless work of NHS staff, who are being forced to go above and beyond to make up for SNP failure.

“A&E is getting stuck in a state of permanent crisis – it is not good enough.

“We desperately need real leadership from the government, but Health Secretary Humza Yousaf spends more time commenting on the crisis than fixing it.

“Mr Yousaf visited University Hospital Ayr on Wednesday to announce that Carrick Glen Hospital will become a national treatment centre. While this is undoubtedly to be welcomed, our brilliant NHS workers in existing NHS hospitals need the support and resources to do their job, and Humza Yousaf and his Government are failing to provide this.

“We need urgent action to end delayed discharge and increase the number of hospital beds which will help to get A&E back on its feet and save lives.”