Four-hour target for A&E waiting times below 80% each month since summer 2021

Compliance with the Scottish Government’s four-hour A&E waiting-time target has been below 80% every month since summer 2021, according to new data.

Public Health Scotland figures show that in July 2026, 69.1% of A&E attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours compared with 67.9% the previous month.

The Scottish Government aims to ensure 95% of people are seen within the four-hour target time.

The new data shows a decrease from July 2025, when 71.2% of attendees were seen within four hours, and compliance with the four-hour A&E waiting time has now been below 80% on a monthly basis since summer 2021.

During July, there were 146,784 attendances at A&E in NHS Scotland, which was a decrease from 148,029 the previous month.

The number of patients spending more than eight hours in A&E was 10.1% compared to 11.2% the previous month, with 3.7% of patients spending more than 12 hours in A&E compared to 4.4% the previous month.

Figures for July 2025 show 9.1% of patients waited longer than eight hours in A&E, with 3.6% waiting longer than 12 hours.

Health secretary Angela Constance said: “Long waits are unacceptable and the Scottish Government is committed to improving A&E performance and tackling long delays. Earlier this week I published a new national plan to improve the flow of patients through hospitals.

“Our plan has immediate, medium and long-term actions for health boards to ensure patients spend less time waiting and have a smoother journey through hospital.”