DUMBARTON’S MSP has hit out at the SNP government after more than 7,500 patients waited longer than four hours to be seen at an accident and emergency department.

At the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley – the nearest A&E department to Dumbarton and the Vale – 7,547 people waited longer than the SNP’s target time of four hours in 2017.

During the week between Christmas and New Year, 65.6 per cent of A&E arrivals at the RAH were seen within four hours – meaning the target time was missed for one in three patients.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie called for more investment in services at the Vale of Leven Hospital and a new A&E service north of the Clyde.

She said: “Our doctors, nurses and NHS staff in Paisley are doing the best they can but they don’t have the resources to cope with the demand from patients in West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond.

“Surely now the SNP health secretary will recognise that we need to invest in more services at the Vale of Leven Hospital and a new A&E service, preferably at the Vale, or at the very least north of the river.”

Health secretary Shona Robison, said: “During my visits to hospitals I’ve been struck time and time again by the dedication and sheer hard work of staff throughout this busy winter.

“I’d like to thank them for their work in supporting any patient or family experiencing a delay to their treatment, and to thank patients themselves for their patience and understanding.

“It is crucial that patients with complex care needs and flu receive the right care, not simply the fastest. It will take some time for services to recover from the pressures being felt this winter and for the spikes in flu levels to subside – however we are working to provide support to boards wherever they might need it.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We planned for these winter pressures by creating extra capacity – such as extra inpatient beds at Gartnavel General Hospital. Our winter plan is designed to enable us to respond to these additional pressures.

“Due to the high level of demand, a number of our patients have waited longer than we would have liked to be seen, diagnosed, treated and either admitted or discharged and we apologise to those patients who experienced lengthy waits.

“In 2017, more than 58,000 were seen, diagnosed, treated and either admitted or discharged within four hours at the RAH. Attendances in December 2017 at the RAH were 7.9 per cent higher than in December 2016.”