THE Scottish government must “wake up” to the crisis unfolding at Scotland’s A&E units, Scottish Labour said today. 

Statistics released this week have shown that only 71.3 per cent of people at A&E were seen within  four hours in the week ending October 10, equalling a record low set last month. 

Of this percentage, some 1,871 spent more than eight hours in A&E departments and 612 people waited longer than 12 hours. 

The three island health boards (which cover the Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles) all managed to treat more than 95 per cent of A&E patients within the four-hour target time, but no mainland health boards managed to achieve this. 

Only 41 per cent of patients were seen within four hours in NHS Forth Valley – the worst performance on record.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Week after week we are presented with the cold, hard fact that A&E services are being overwhelmed. 

“We have been calling on the government to act for months, but instead they have dragged their heels and failed to support staff.”

It comes as a third Scottish health board has requested help from the armed forces as it faces staffing shortages ahead of winter.

NHS Grampian has made a formal request for military assistance as the health service faces growing pressure as a result of coronavirus and the backlog of care built up during the pandemic.

Soldiers are also helping the Scottish Ambulance Service with vehicles under a separate arrangement.

Ms Baillie added: “Thousands of Scots are waiting several hours in pain for treatment. And health boards, like Forth Valley, are recording the worst statistics on record. 

“Things have to change now, or else we face a winter of chaos.” 

A government spokeswoman said that the pandemic has affected A&E services and the resultant pressure, pledging to continue to work closely with health boards. 

She said that A&E departments in Scotland had performed better than those in the rest of the UK for more than six years, adding: “Our NHS staff have faced unprecedented pressures over recent weeks as they work tirelessly and consistently to respond to the pandemic whilst continuing to provide vital treatment and optimal patient care.”