Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “It beggars belief that Neil Gray’s top priority is independence when more than a third of patients are waiting over four hours to be seen in Scotland’s A&E departments at the height of summer.
“The health secretary should be ashamed of these atrocious and worsening figures – and his warped priorities.
“These aren’t just numbers, these are people in pain – and we know that lives are needlessly being lost because of these delays.
“The SNP’s dire workforce planning, failed recovery plans and neglect of frontline services are letting down dedicated staff and patients alike.
“Neil Gray cannot keep his head in the sand. He must urgently adopt the Scottish Conservatives’ common-sense plans to slash NHS red tape, cut back the bloated middle management, and get resources where they are desperately needed — to the frontline.”
