Local Scottish Labour MSP Sarah Boyack has raised the alarm as the crisis in local A&E waiting times has continued unabated.
Statistics published this week have shown that only 74.9% of A&E attendees were seen within the four hour target time for the week ending 16 January 2022.
For that week, 1,391 Scots spent over eight hours waiting in A&E departments with a further 475 spending more than 12 hours waiting.
At NHS Lothian only 74.9% of A&E attendees were seen within the four hour target, leaving scores waiting longer for treatment.
At the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh only around 66% were treated within four hours.
The Scottish Government has set a national standard that 95% of patients should wait no longer than four hours from arrival to admission, discharge or transfer for A&E treatment.
Sarah Boyack said: “Last week, I met with Humza Yousaf to discuss the need for urgent action to support patients in Musselburgh who are struggling to access primary care.
“These figures paint a very grim picture and confirm what we already knew: across Scotland A&E services are in crisis and the situation is getting worse with every passing week.
“The long A&E waiting times are much more than mere missed targets – they are about all those who desperately need urgent medical attention, they are about the over-stretched NHS staff who do the absolute best to support people – A&E waiting times are a snapshot of what needs to change so that we can have a health system that works for everyone: patients and staff. We need change and we need it now.”
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