The newly re-elected Scottish Government must show that it is serious about tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments – as A&E waiting time records continue to be broken.
New figures on ED performance from Public Health Scotland covering the month of April 2026 were published today (2 June).
In April, fewer than two thirds (64.2%) of major ED attendances were admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours. The government-mandated target is 95%.
Meanwhile, almost one in eight (12.4%, or 14,846) patients waited more than eight hours.
This made that month the worst April since records began for eight and four-hour waiting time metrics in ED.
A total of 6,196 – or 5.1% of patients – waited more than 12 hours – constituting the second worst April on record.
Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM Scotland Vice President, said: “Emergency Department clinicians are working tirelessly to try to provide safe and good care to our patients – but the pressure is overwhelming and relentless.
“We are out of winter. This time of year is supposed to see a break in the clouds. Instead, we are as busy as ever.”
Today’s data also showed that, in April 2026, there were an average of 1,902 beds occupied by patients medically fit to leave each day – also known as delayed discharges.
This constitutes a serious problem and is a driver of ED overcrowding because it means patients in need of admission from A&E cannot get a bed. This can result in extremely long waits for these extremely sick patients.
As RCEM revealed last year, these waits can be deadly: in 2025, there 871 excess deaths associated with long waits for admission in ED.
Dr Hunter said: “At last month’s elections, the incumbent SNP-run Scottish Government retained power. We must see votes repaid with real, concrete action on A&E overcrowding.
“The new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Angela Constance has an uphill battle ahead of her. As today’s numbers show, waiting times are among the worst they’ve ever been for this time of year.
“Enduring such waits in an ED is stressful, undignified and we know it can cause harm to patients.
“Meanwhile, there has been no significant or meaningful improvement in the number of delayed discharges – a key metric of patient flow.
“We call on the government to make tackling hospital overcrowding a priority and refuse to allow the current situation to continue. Just because our waits are better than other UK nations does not mean they should be accepted.”
More information and data visualisation can be found here.