Ambulances have been forced to wait outside Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) for more than 12 hours before being redeployed, fuelling concerns that the North East is facing a worsening “blue light crisis”.
Freedom of information data released by the Scottish Ambulance Service reveals that the longest recorded turnaround time at ARI so far this year reached 12 hours and 21 minutes. The figures also show that, during five of the first 22 weeks of 2026, ambulances were delayed for more than 11 hours before crews were able to hand over patients and return to service.
The data highlights sustained pressure on emergency services, with as many as 538 patients transported to ARI in a single week. The backlog has contributed to significant delays, with ambulances frequently queueing outside the hospital while awaiting capacity within the emergency department.
The situation mirrors concerns raised last year, when former SNP health secretary Neil Gray apologised to NHS staff who described ambulance queues at ARI as resembling a “disaster zone”. At one point, up to 18 ambulances were reportedly lined up outside the hospital, as frontline medics warned the ongoing strain was leaving staff “demoralised”.
Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, Harriet Cross, said the latest figures demonstrate a deepening crisis across the region.
“These figures expose a blue light crisis across the North East which is not improving,” she said.
“We are seeing the horrific impact of this on patients, particularly in rural areas, who despite being in a serious condition, still can’t access an ambulance.
“Lives are needlessly being put at risk because the SNP government have failed to get on top of this emergency at ARI that has been worsening for years.
“Our hardworking paramedics are at breaking point due to the crippling and intense pressure they are being put under from hospital backlogs that are causing slow ambulance turnaround times.
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“Apologies with no actions from successive SNP health secretaries are not enough — dedicated ambulance crews and patients deserve better than to be plagued by this chronic mismanagement.
“At a time when ambulance staff morale is at an all-time low, John Swinney must urgently address this critical situation once and for all before lives are lost.”
The Scottish Government and NHS Grampian have previously acknowledged pressures within urgent and emergency care services, with efforts ongoing to improve patient flow and reduce ambulance handover delays. However, the latest figures suggest that significant challenges remain across the region.
