Dr Fiona Hunter

“Lives are at stake, and without immediate intervention, emergency departments are at risk of collapse.”

“Lives are at stake, and without immediate intervention, emergency departments are at risk of collapse.”

“We know that there is a link between ED overcrowding and an increased chance of death, particularly among the most sick and injured of our patients.”

“We know that there is a link between ED overcrowding and an increased chance of death, particularly among the most sick and injured of our patients”

“completely terrified”

“I am completely terrified, to be clear about the situation. Before we get into winter when the viruses hit, we are providing unsafe levels of care in emergency departments. There is a toxic normalisation of corridor care.”

“There's been a toxic normalisation of corridor care”

“There's been a toxic normalisation of corridor care”

“Completely terrified, to be clear about the situation currently, before we get into proper winter where the viruses really hit. We are providing unsafe levels of care in emergency departments.”

“I'm completely terrified. To be clear about the situation currently, before we get into proper winter, where the viruses will really hit, we're providing unsafe levels of care in the emergency department, there's been a real toxic normalisation of corridor care.”

“absolutely terrified about what the winter onslaught could mean for hospitals”

“I think we're really scared about how ugly this winter is going to be.”

“I think we're really scared about how ugly this winter is going to be”

“really scared about how ugly this winter is going to be”

“The pressure facing Scottish Emergency Departments this summer is unsustainable. We are seeing overcrowding in the month of June which would have previously been unthinkable.”

“The pressure facing Scottish Emergency Departments this summer is unsustainable. We are seeing overcrowding in the month of June which would have previously been unthinkable.”

“There is no good reason for emergency departments (EDs) to be struggling this badly at this time of year. This is not winter. We are not grappling with seasonal illnesses like flu. We are in what is supposed to be the 'easier' months in emergency medicine. But long-term neglect of the ED crisis has left us unable to cope even in the warmer months. We are in a permanent crisis.”

“As vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Scotland, and a consultant working in A&E who sees the daily reality of our hospitals, I write to the new Scottish Government with a clear and urgent message: be bold.”

“Long waits in Emergency Departments (EDs) are dangerous for patients and, for the sickest patients who require admission into a ward, are associated with increased risk of death. The state of our departments is utterly dire. This winter has left our members, and the departments they work in, on their knees. We are crying out for help.”

“Long waits in emergency departments are dangerous for patients and, for the sickest patients who require admission into a ward, are associated with increased risk of death. The state of our departments is utterly dire. This winter has left our members... on their knees. We are crying out for help.”

“No one should or wants to be treated in a corridor or other temporary non-clinical space, as it is not sustainable or safe for patients or for the staff.”

“patients becoming "stuck" in unsuitable areas of hospitals receiving "undignified care" for two to three days at a time”

“Unfortunately it doesn't just begin when they arrive at hospital. Ambulances are stacked outside emergency departments. So there's a delay to some patients being brought into hospital – that can have a real knock-on effect for those patients that have a time-critical problem.”

“This is yet another month of predictable broken records for emergency medicine performance in Scotland. The Scottish government continues to shout about improvements to NHS waiting lists. We, of course, welcome these but a lack of political will to put the same emphasis on addressing delayed discharges means our departments are at risk of total derailment.”