Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has condemned the state of Scotland's ambulance service, warning that patients are paying the price for an ongoing crisis that has seen dangerously ill individuals waiting hours for emergency care.
Ambulance Turnaround Times Exceed 18 Hours
Research by Scottish Labour has revealed staggering ambulance turnaround times, with crews waiting outside hospitals for extended periods while patients in need remain untreated. One ambulance waited over 14 hours outside Ayr Hospital, while another spent 17 hours outside University Hospital in Wishaw. The longest turnaround time so far in 2026 was over 1,098 minutes—more than 18 hours—outside Monklands Hospital near Coatbridge.
Every major hospital in Scotland has experienced at least one turnaround time of over an hour this year, and eight hospitals have recorded waits exceeding 12 hours. From the Northern Isles to the Borders, patients are suffering, according to Sarwar.
Red Code Patients Face Hours-Long Waits
The crisis is most acute for patients classified as 'red code,' defined by the Scottish Ambulance Service as those with a likelihood of cardiac arrest between 1% and 9.9% or requiring resuscitation interventions. In 2026, red code patients have faced waits of up to seven hours. In Lanarkshire, waits exceeded three hours; in Highland and Western Isles, over four hours; and in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, over five and a half hours. Ayrshire and Arran and Lothian recorded waits of almost seven hours.
"Waits of hours on end for patients assessed to be in real danger—we deserve better than this," Sarwar wrote in his column for the Daily Record.
Sarwar Blames SNP Incompetence
Sarwar attributed the crisis to what he called "SNP incompetence," noting that NHS waits have remained stubbornly high while a revolving door of health secretaries has failed to address the situation. He highlighted the shelving of the long-promised new Monklands hospital as evidence of ongoing failures. "All while the SNP fail to support our NHS, patients and staff pay the price," he said. "Enough is enough—Scotland deserves better."
Venezuela Earthquake Appeal
In a separate appeal, Sarwar urged readers to support relief efforts in Venezuela following two devastating earthquakes that have killed over 2,500 people and left thousands missing. The Scottish Government has pledged £250,000, while the UK Government has committed £2 million, field medical resources, and a search and rescue team. Readers can donate via dec.org.uk, call 0370 60 60 900, or text HOPE to 70150 to give £10.
