The region’s A&E waiting times have been branded a “crisis” as new figures show almost 150 people waited more than 12 hours to be discharged or admitted in May.
The latest data from Public Health Scotland highlights the extent of the issues facing accident and emergency units both locally and across the country, with performance measured against the four-hour target.
The target - which has been in place since 2007 - is for 95 per cent of patients to wait no longer than four hours from arrival to admission, discharge or transfer.
In Forth Valley, the latest figure within four hours sat at 68.5 per cent in May 2022, which is below the national average of 73 per cent.
The PHS data also reports the number of patients waiting more than eight hours and more than 12 hours from admission to discharge, admittance or transfer.
It reveals that 147 people were left waiting more than 12 hours under this criteria in May in Forth Valley, while 680 people were included under the eight-hour figure.
The latest figures prompted Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alexander Stewart to label the situation in the region’s wards as a “crisis” and pointed the figure at the Scottish Government.
Mr Stewart said: “These dreadful A&E waiting times tragically no longer come as a surprise, however that should not mean the SNP Health Secretary accepts them as the norm for patients having to endure such angst by NHS Forth Valley.
“This serious situation leads to needless deaths and horrific discomfort for those who are forced to wait so unacceptably long in our A&E departments.
“The Health Secretary – and indeed all his predecessors’ – dire workforce planning in recent SNP history is the root cause of these horrific A&E waiting times; his flimsy Covid Recovery Plan simply isn’t working for patients or our excellent frontline staff.
“So it is little wonder that things are so bad, as the SNP Scottish government is far more interested in pushing their own constitutional agendas than tackling the crisis in Forth Valley’s A&E.”
However, Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed defended the efforts of ministers in tackling the A&E issues.
Ms Tweed said: “I am in regular contact with NHS Forth Valley and I am acutely aware of the significant pressures they are experiencing, with higher than usual numbers of very sick patients who need immediate care, attending A&E.
“The Scottish Government announced £50million to support a new approach to reduce A&E waiting times last month which will see health boards adopt a number of measures to reduce A&E waiting times and improve patient experience, including offering alternatives to hospital-based treatment.
“In the meantime, NHS Forth Valley are encouraging people to call NHS 24 on 111 first, before attending A&E if they require urgent but not life-threatening medical assistance.
“This will avoid people having long waits at A&E and ensure they receive the correct treatment as quickly as possible.”
An NHS Forth Valley spokeswoman said: “Over the last few weeks, pressures have increased significantly across local health, social care and care home services due to a sharp rise in cases of Covid-19 amongst patients and staff.
“We have also seen high numbers of seriously ill patients who require to be admitted to hospital as well as many patients who are experiencing delays in being discharged from hospital because they require a package of care to be put in place or are waiting for a place in a local care home.
“As a result, some patients have had to wait for longer periods in the Emergency Department until an inpatient bed becomes available. All patients are assessed by an experienced senior nurse to establish their clinical priority and regular observations are carried out by nursing staff while patients wait to be reviewed by a clinician.
“Staff are doing everything to reduce delays and many patients undergo tests and start treatment in ED while they are waiting to be admitted to a ward.”
