OPPOSITION politicians are calling on the Scottish Government to publish a report that warned ministers most A&E departments in the country were regularly unsafe.

The Scottish Parliament's health committee is also being asked to investigate details of the report, which was sent to former Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in April last year – six months before winter hit and hospitals were swamped with patients.

Written by the College of Emergency Medicine in Scotland amid serious concerns about the number of patients backing-up in A&E departments because of bed shortages on wards, the document has never been released.

Mr Hume added: "In January this year, we published figures which showed the number of geriatric beds has dropped by one-third in the past 10 years, despite emergency admissions for older people being at their highest in a decade.

"The Scottish Government cannot continue to pile pressure on the NHS by removing beds without having in place a comprehensive system of care in the community."

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: "There is mounting evidence that what Nicola Sturgeon left behind in the health brief was nothing short of chaotic. This is another story of warnings ignored, and patients paid the price for this.

"Was Alex Salmond aware of this report when he heaped praise on Nicola Sturgeon, calling her the new Nye Bevan?"

Mr Neil said emergency care remained a "serious issue" but insisted the Government had responded swiftly to the college report.

He said: "The Scottish Government has taken quick and decisive action to improve emergency care and ensure people are seen quickly and effectively at A&E departments across Scotland.

"We have worked closely with the College of Emergency Medicine and are investing substantially – some £50m – through our action plan. These improvements include increased staffing and investment and the introduction of local plans in place across Scotland."

l NHS bosses in charge of hospitals in England and Wales where poor care could have led to thousands of excess deaths could be suspended, the Prime Minister has indicated.

He made his comments on the eve of the publication of a major report into the death rates at 14 hospital trusts.

NHS England medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh is expected to describe poor care, medical errors and management blunders, suggesting the Stafford hospital scandal was not a one-off.