Scotland’s accident and emergency waiting times have hit their worst level on record once again.

Latest weekly statistics reveal that 7,212 of the 25,123 people attending A&E departments in the week ending 3 October were not admitted, discharged or transferred four hours after arriving.

Just 71.3% of patients were seen within the target time, below the 95% the Scottish government aims for.

This has not been met since July 2020.

Opposition parties have called the figures “terrifying” and an “unmitigated disaster”.