Rise in A&E waits

Nearly a third of A&E patients at Forth Valley Royal Hospital have waited more than eight hours to be admitted, discharged or treated.

That's according to figures from Public Health Scotland.

44% were seen within the target time, in the week ending 15th October.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"Close to 3,000 people waiting over 8 hours to be seen in our A&E departments ought to be a wake-up call to this SNP Government.

"NHS staff simply don’t have the beds, safe staffing and resources they need. They are working flat out but they need support from the SNP/Green government before winter.

"That means an urgent inquiry into the hundreds of avoidable deaths linked to the emergency care crisis, a staff burnout prevention strategy and a health and social care staff assembly."