THERE will be “fluctuations” in A&E waiting times throughout this “most challenging winter”, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has warned. 

The latest figures showed an improvement in performance after the final week of October saw A&E departments produce their worst ever performance against targets.

Despite calls for Yousaf to be sacked, Nicola Sturgeon said the Health Secretary had her “absolute confidence”.

Public Health Scotland data for the week ending November 6 showed 65.1% of patients were dealt with within the target time – although that is still below the Scottish Government target of 95%.

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Emergency departments dealt with 25,123 patients in the week ending November 6, with the figures showing that 8760 were there for four hours or more – down from 9615 the previous week. 

Yousaf said the latest figures showed an “improvement in overall performance” but that there would still be “fluctuations in performance” over the course of the winter. 

With mounting pressures on the NHS, the Health Secretary has repeatedly warned the service will face its most challenging winter ever. 

Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane hit out at the figures, describing them as “scarcely believable”.

When Douglas Ross called for Yousaf to be sacked at FMQs last week, John Swinney described it as a “laughable proposition”. 

The Health Secretary said: “This week we have seen an improvement in overall performance and a decrease in the number of patients waiting longer than 12 hours for treatment.

“There has also been a drop in the number of patients who spent over 8 hours in A&E, down from 3,391 last week to 3,021 this week, a 10.9% reduction.

“This is welcome, but I am clear we will continue to see fluctuations in performance over the course of winter.”

He continued: "The combined impact of pandemic backlogs, Brexit-driven staff shortages, and inflation costs will make this winter the most challenging the NHS has ever faced.

“Delayed discharge continues to be the single biggest factor driving up A&E waits and health boards are striving to ensure people leave hospital without delay, freeing up vital beds for those who need them most.

“A key focus of our winter plan is on social care and actions to encourage authorities to help ease delays.

“We are engaged in intensive discussions with local authorities and integration authorities to ensure every single ounce of spare capacity in the community is being utilised.

“Our £600 million winter plan will see us recruit 1,000 new NHS staff and our £50 million Urgent and Unscheduled Care Collaborative looks to drive down A&E waits through scheduled urgent appointments, Hospital at Home and directing people to most appropriate care.”