Local Labour MSP Martin Whitfield has warned of a looming ‘A&E crisis’ for the people living in the Lothians, including East Lothian residents.

Statistics published this week have unveiled the scale of the crisis at A&E services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where most county residents head for emergency care.

The statistics show that for the week ending 15 August, 759 people waited over four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged at A&E services at the RIE representing some 31 per cent of total attendances.

Shockingly, 165 people waited over eight hours at Edinburgh’s A&E in the same week.

Mr Whitfield has said that people in East Lothian and across the Lothians are now being put at risk due to the SNP’s failure to re-mobilise the NHS.

Commenting, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“It is simply shocking that more than 750 people waited over four hours to be seen at A&E at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

“The people of East Lothian deserve swift medical attention when they need it, but they are being deprived of it and put in danger by the SNP’s failure to re-mobilise the NHS.

“For months now frontline NHS workers have been raising the alarm and the Health Secretary has simply failed to heed their calls for action.

“Lothian residents and frontline NHS workers deserve better support from the Scottish Government and they deserve it now.”