A LOCAL MSP has hit out at the SNP government claiming hospital patients are facing the worst waiting times on record.

Maurice Golden, West Scotland MSP for the Scottish Conservatives, raised concerns after the latest figures show one in five patients were not treated within the SNP’s four hour waiting time target last December.

In Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the statistics show 79.9 per cent of patients were treated within four hours, the government target is 95 per cent.

Mr Golden also highlighted that almost 1,300 patients had to wait more than eight hours to be treated. During December, nearly 300 patients did not receive medical attention for twelve hours.

Mr Golden said it is time for the SNP to make health a top priority. He added: “If urgent action is not taken to support NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde then the situation for our patients and hardworking staff is only going to be of even greater concern.”

Read more: Clydebank pensioners invited to tea dance with free transport

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Scotland’s core A&E departments continue to be the best performing in the UK – and have been for more than four and a half years, despite continued high attendance levels.

“Like the majority of health boards across the UK, an increase of winter illnesses is impacting on performance within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This year NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has received over £2.6million to strengthen capacity and ensure quality of care, patient safety and access to services over the winter period.

“We are very clear that providing effective out-of-hours care to ensure non-emergency patients don’t need to go to A&E is integral to tackling waiting times – that’s why we continue to support the delivery and re-design of GP-led out-of-hours services in line with Sir Lewis Ritchie’s report.”