Health board declares critical incident over 'extreme' A&E pressure

A Scottish health board has declared a critical incident over "extreme pressure" on A&E services.

NHS Grampian said emergency departments at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin are struggling to cope with demand.

The board's Shantini Paranjothy said care services were also stretched and patient capacity had been reached prior to a local bank holiday on Monday.

She said some ambulances would be diverted to other regions including NHS Tayside and NHS Highland and patients may face "longer waits" to receive care.

Paranjothy asked for friends and family of patients leaving hospitals to help "discharge them promptly" so beds could be freed up for those who need them.

It is the first such incident declared by the board since December 2024 .

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Paranjothy said: "We are working alongside key partners including the Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Tayside, and NHS Highland, to take all necessary steps, including diverting ambulances only where absolutely necessary to ensure all patients are safe and well cared for.

"We apologise to anyone impacted by longer waits or by having to travel further to receive necessary care."

The Scottish government defines a critical incident as any localised disruption which results in a board "losing its ability to deliver critical services, or, where patients and staff may be at risk of harm".

The last critical incident declared in Scotland was due to an IT fault at NHS Highland in June 2025.

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr described the move as "deeply concerning".

"Lives are being put at risk, staff are under intolerable strain, and patients are bearing the brunt of the crisis that is continuing to unfold at the health board," he said.

"It's extremely worrying that ambulances are having to be diverted, in some cases hundreds of miles, to the Highlands and Tayside. This simply should not be happening."

Health Secretary Angela Constance said the Scottish government is committed to improving A&E performance and tackling long delays.

"While the challenges facing Scotland are not unique compared to the rest of the UK, I am focused on ensuring people get the care they need as quickly as possible and the status quo cannot continue," she said.

"That is why I have published a new national plan to improve the flow of patients through hospitals and why we have provided £90 million of dedicated funding to support those waiting the longest for treatment.

"It is also why our reforms of the NHS will focus directly on improving services for patients and removing the current bureaucratic barriers in place."

Constance said it was important to note that pressures on A&E wards are affected by "delayed discharge of patients into social care settings".

She said this was the responsibility of local councils and all sides must work together on the issue.