More than 95% of accident and emergency patients were seen within the four-hour waiting time target for the second week in a row.

The 95.4% figure for the week ending May 3 is 1.9 percentage points higher than the same week of 2015 when 93.5% of patients were seen within four hours, and 0.4 percentage points above the previous week when performance was at 95.0%.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "It is extremely promising that our A&E departments are seeing and treating 95% of patients within four hours.

"NHS staff have been working extremely hard to improve the experience for patients and the figures published today are testament to this.

"However, we know performance can fluctuate which is why health boards are continuing to work on improving and maintaining performance. This includes implementing our six essential actions which aim to minimise long waits in A&E and assessment units by improving patient flow throughout all areas of the hospital and community.

"We want to see long-term, sustainable change put in place in order to maintain this high level of performance during peaks and troughs of demand."

During the four-hour period, patients will be clinically assessed and undergo tests and treatment, before subsequently being discharged or admitted to hospital. The four-hour period covers treatment and discharge/admit decision making.