Gordon MacDonald praises NHS Lothian staff and welcomes the latest accident and emergency figures

MSP Gordon MacDonald has praised NHS Lothian for hitting its accident and emergency target and he stressed that the public should value the crucial role that staff play in the service.

He was commenting on the most recent data release from NHS Scotland which reveals that 96.5 per cent of patients in NHS Lothian’s emergency departments were seen, admitted or discharged within four hours.

This beats the 95 per cent target.

Scottish hospitals have now had the best performing emergency departments in the UK for more than two years.

MacDonald, SNP member for Edinburgh Pentlands, said: “Scotland has had the best performing emergency departments in the UK for more than two years which is testament to the hard work of our NHS and social care workers.

“It is extremely encouraging that Emergency Departments in NHS Lothian are frequently meeting the four-hour waiting times target with the latest figures published showing that 96.5 per cent of patients are being seen within four hours.

“We will always value the vital work done by our NHS staff and we should always celebrate their success and continue to support their efforts.”

Website | + posts

Experienced news, business, arts, sport and travel journalist. Food critic and managing editor of a well-established food and travel website. Also a magazine editor of publications with circulations of up to 200,000 and managing director of a long-established PR/marketing company with a string of blue-chip clients in its CV. Former communications lecturer at a Scottish university and social media specialist for a string of successful and busy SMEs.