Health secretary denies ‘crisis’ in Scotland’s NHS

Public Health Scotland figures showed that in the week ending 1 September, 18,002 (67%) of patients attending at Accident and Emergency departments were seen and admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours.

This was up from 66.4% the previous week but well below the 95% target set by the Scottish government.

Gray said Scotland’s A&E figures were the best in the UK, but not “where we want them to be”.

He also cited a survey, co-commissioned by the government and Macmillan Cancer Support, external, that found 95% of respondents were “positive” about the cancer care they had received.

The health secretary said ministers were working to improve working condition for NHS staff.

He highlighted that working hours had been reduced for Agenda for Change staff – which includes nurses, midwives and paramedics – and that the government was working to ensure they are the best paid in the UK.

Gray warned the NHS faced a “challenge of sustainability” due to “profound” demand on secondary care services.

But he said the government was investing in measures “to ensure that we’re preventing people getting ill or sicker in the first place”.