Hundreds of patients across Scotland have been forced to endure "agonising" waits exceeding 48 hours to be admitted from accident and emergency departments, according to stark new figures that lay bare the deepening crisis in the nation's NHS.
Soaring Figures Reveal Scale of the Crisis
The data, obtained by Scottish Labour through a Freedom of Information request to Public Health Scotland, shows that in the period from January to August 2025 alone, 275 patients waited more than two days in A&E before being admitted to a ward. This alarming figure is part of a broader trend of extreme delays, with 1,380 patients waiting over 36 hours and 7,965 facing waits longer than 24 hours during the same eight-month period.
The statistics highlight a dramatic and worsening situation when viewed over recent years. The number of patients suffering the longest waits has skyrocketed, rising from just 12 cases in 2019 and seven in 2020. The problem intensified significantly in 2022, with 396 patients waiting over 48 hours, a sharp increase from 49 in 2021. While there was a slight decrease to 323 in 2024 from 201 in 2023, the 2025 data indicates the crisis is far from resolved.
Political Fury and a 'National Emergency'
The revelations have sparked fierce political condemnation, with Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman, Jackie Baillie, launching a scathing attack on the SNP government's record. "Nowhere is the SNP’s failure clearer than in our NHS," Baillie stated. "After 18 years in charge, Scots are suffering agonising waits in A&E, desperate to get help."
Baillie dismissed assurances from First Minister John Swinney and Health Secretary Neil Gray that the health service is improving, arguing it is "obvious that our health service is nowhere near where it needs to be." She blamed "the SNP’s abject failure to get to grips with this crisis," claiming that patients are suffering, staff are being let down, and taxpayers are "paying the price for the utter incompetence of ministers."
In a direct challenge, Baillie declared that under a Labour First Minister, Anas Sarwar, the party would "declare a national waiting times emergency and do whatever it takes to fix our NHS," ensuring it remains free at the point of need.
Ministerial Pressure and Long-Term Pledges
The damning A&E figures emerge alongside growing scepticism over the government's ability to meet another critical target: eradicating long waiting lists for outpatient appointments. An operational plan published in March 2025 committed to eliminating waits of 12 months or more by spring 2026.
However, a recent Audit Scotland report condemned a "persistent implementation gap" and warned it would be "extremely challenging" to deliver on this pledge. As of the end of October, 51,319 outpatients had waited over a year, including 6,350 who had been waiting for more than two years.
Despite the mounting pressure, Health Secretary Neil Gray has insisted the government will meet its targets. He pointed to a £20 million investment aimed at increasing social care capacity and support at A&E front doors to reduce admissions. Gray also highlighted record NHS funding of £21.7 billion in the Budget and plans for reform, including a shift from acute to community care, a £531 million investment in general practice, and expanding Hospital at Home capacity to 2,000 beds by late 2026.
Nevertheless, the latest data on extreme A&E delays presents a grim picture of frontline pressures, raising urgent questions about patient safety and the Scottish Government's stewardship of the health service during a challenging winter period.
