Health Secretary Angela Constance visited University Hospital Crosshouse earlier today, Monday 3 August 2026, to discuss the pressures being faced at the Emergency Department and work already underway, and planned, to reduce the length of time patients are waiting to be seen.
Over recent years, with the demand for urgent care increasing, NHS Ayrshire & Arran has been working closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service and Health and Social Care Partnerships across East, North and South Ayrshire, to minimise delays, improve patient flow and ensure people receive safe, timely care.
The Health Secretary met with teams to discuss and see first-hand the pressures being faced and work underway to help services prepare for periods of increased pressure, monitor ambulance handover times and safely receive patients as quickly as possible. As well as the plans in place to support timely discharge and make the best use of community capacity.
Chief Executive for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Professor Gordon James said:
“We welcomed the visit today from the Health Secretary in recognition of the challenges that increased demand can create across the health and care system.
“We are taking proactive action with our partners to address these pressures. By working closely with the Scottish Ambulance Service and our Health and Social Care Partnerships, we are identifying solutions, improving patient flow and reducing avoidable delays wherever possible.
“This collaborative approach is helping us make the best use of available capacity across hospital and community services, while ensuring patients continue to receive safe, effective care.”
NHS Ayrshire & Arran will continue to work with all our partners across the system to reduce avoidable pressure points, support timely discharge and improve the experience of patients accessing care