Humza Yousaf has warned the NHS in Scotland is facing an "exceptionally difficult winter" with another covid wave a "high possibility".
The Health Secretary said the possible resurgence of flu will place extra pressure on the health service in the winter months, along with the usual issue of slips, trips and falls.
It comes after waiting time performance at Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments hit a new record low in figures published this week, with just 63.5 per cent of patients seen and subsequently admitted or discharged within four hours in the week up to September 11, figures Yousaf said were "not acceptable".
