MORE than 7,000 patients have been left waiting for more than four hours in NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Emergency Departments in the last 12 months.

In the week between Christmas and New Year, only 86 per cent of people were seen within four hours at Crosshouse — the Scottish Government’s target is 95 per cent.

Opposition parties and patient groups are laying the blame at the door of the ruling administration at Holyrood, claiming that they are failing to support under-pressure staff.

It comes days after figures published by the Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland which provides health information and statistical services for the NHS.

Their data shows that, across both Ayr and Crosshouse Hospitals, 7,101 patients were left for more than four hours before being seen in 2017.

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said “It’s clear that our hard-pressed NHS staff are just not getting the support or resources they need from the SNP Government in Edinburgh to meet the needs of patients here in East Ayrshire.

“The A&E figures for the festive period are some of the worst in memory. No wonder Nicola Sturgeon felt the need to apologise.

“But it will be a hollow apology without meaningful action. Patients are being made to wait too long throughout the year, not just at Christmas.

“It’s been a very tough year for staff at our local hospitals as their workloads continue to increase, whilst budgets are cut and its time they were giving the support they need by the Scottish Government”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had apologised to patients who had faced lengthy waits, saying the health service had faced ‘exceptional pressures’ as admissions soared for flu, trips and slips and other winter-related illness.

Liz Moore, Director for Acute Services at NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said: “ As with all Emergency Departments (EDs) across the country, ours have been experiencing a high demand for care over the public holiday period.

“While we have had a higher than normal number of people seeking unscheduled care, patient safety has been maintained and our staff are coping with the increased number of patients.

“While we aim to ensure all patients are assessed and treated as quickly as possible, there have been some breaches of the waiting time target.

“Each patient coming to our EDs is triaged on arrival and treated in accordance with their condition.

“We apologise to any patient who has had to wait longer for either discharge or transfer to an appropriate setting from our EDs.

“Our staff are working exceptionally hard to ensure that the increased number of patients coming to our EDs receive a high level of care and attention.”