Commenting on the latest statistics published by Public Health Scotland, Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “Today’s figures show an NHS buckling under enormous pressure, despite record funding for the Scottish Government.

“Scotland’s A&E experienced the worst August on record, with over 50,000 attendances waiting longer than the four-hour access standard, with more than 17,700 spending over eight hours waiting, and more than 7,000 waiting for over 12 hours. Emergency consultants have been warning of the serious consequences of failing to address the problem for years.

“Delayed discharge still remains a stubborn problem in our health service, despite SNP ministers promising to abolish it well over a decade ago.

“NHS staff are working incredibly hard, but they cannot be expected to fix a system under this much pressure through goodwill alone.

“Winter is round the corner will increase the pressure. Ministers must lay out a plan on how they will avoid a winter crisis in our hospitals.”

ENDS

NOTES

Delayed discharge

• At the August 2026 census, there were 1,964 people delayed.
• The average (median) length of delay for people delayed at the August 2026 census was 33 days. 
• The average number of beds occupied per day due to people delayed in hospital was 1,971 in August 2026.
• In August 2026, there were 61,091 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed.

Monthly A&E

During August 2026

• There were 152,331 attendances at A&E in NHS Scotland (compared to 146,875 the previous month, and 137,703 monthly average for 2025).
• 101,584 (66.7%) of A&E attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer, or discharge within 4 hours (compared to 101,436 (69.1%) the previous month, and 94,930 (68.9%) monthly average for 2025).
• Compliance has been below 80% since summer 2021.
• 17,717 (11.9%) patients spent more than 8 hours in A&E (compared to 14,443 (10.1%) the previous month, and 14,890 (11.1%) monthly average for 2025).
• 7,071 (4.8%) patients spent more than 12 hours in A&E (compared to 5,408 (3.8%) the previous month, and 6,490 (4.8%) monthly average for 2025).