Two hour waits for ambulances in Grampian rises from 8 to 2,369 in four years
Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett says the figures are "terrifying"
Last updated 13th Jun 2022
Shocking new figures have revealed that 2,369 people were forced to wait for more than two hours for an ambulance across NHS Grampian in the last year.
Only eight people had to wait at least 120 minutes before being reached by an ambulance four years ago.
That number has been on a steady rise since, with 281 people waiting more than two hours last year.
However an increase of 843% provides another challenge for the already under pressure Health Secretary Humza Yousaf.
Dr Gulhanes Aberdeenshire West colleague, Alexander Burnett, says the figures are "terrifying", with staff left "completely under-resourced".
He said: "These terrifying figures emphasise how badly waiting times have been left to spiral out of control under the SNP Government’s watch.
“Ambulance staff have sent out their own 999 call to the Scottish Government and it’s high time ministers take urgent action to tackle this escalating crisis.
“Lives are literally being lost in the north-east because our under-resourced ambulance service is not fit for purpose under the SNP Government.
“Heroic ambulance staff and paramedics are continuing to do everything they can but are completely under-resourced.
“Humza Yousaf can’t use the pandemic as an excuse and must get a grip of this problem urgently before even more people die needlessly".