A HEALTH Board has warned of "significant pressures" on services, with more than 50 members of staff self-isolating from coronavirus.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran bosses spoke of the "extremely challenging" time for workers, with Covid cases in communities "now at the highest level they have been since the start of the pandemic".

Dr Crawford McGuffie, Medical Director within the health board, confirmed they currently have 26 staff self-isolating at home as a result of testing positive.

A further 29 staff are self-isolating having been 'pinged' by Test and Protect or are pending the result of a PCR test.

READ MORE: More than 2,800 new Covid cases identified as number in hospital rises again

He said: “An increase in COVID-19 admissions, staff absence and rising emergency attendances, has resulted in significant pressures across the whole health and care system.

"This pressure is being felt right across acute services, and primary and community care.

"This is an extremely challenging time for many of our staff. We are extremely grateful to our teams for the continued support to patient care under difficult circumstances, while also providing support to colleagues."

This comes as A&E waiting time performances across Scotland has hit a series of record lows and last week First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced she could be seeking military assistance to sort out the problem.

Official figures show almost a third of people in emergency departments across Scotland waited longer than the four-hour target in the week to September 12, and record numbers of people waiting more than eight or 12 hours also emerged.

The pressure amounting on hospitals throughout the country has left Dr McGuffie conscious of the effects it may have on the NHS Ayrshire and Arran staff and is encouraging workers to seek help if they aren’t coping.

He added: “The Board have invested in staff hubs which have been available throughout the pandemic to support staff with their emotional and physical wellbeing, no matter what area of the health service they work in.

"We are continuing to encourage all staff to take advantage of the support available to them."

READ MORE: Yousaf urged to justify his job after A&E waits hit 'horrific' new levels

In light of the worrying A&E figures, Humza Yousaf has been urged to justify his role as Health Secretary.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP described the numbers as ‘horrific’ and challenged the Health Secretary to explain why he should keep his job in light of the record lows.

He said: “These numbers are horrific. Behind each and every one is a person in pain, and a team of staff struggling to help them. Even in the midst of this crisis, these figures are astonishing.

“Health care professionals cannot simply be conjured out of thin air when the going gets tough. It takes years to put them in place because they are highly qualified and well trained. This crisis is years in the making.

“The Health Secretary had been warned that emergency care was crumbling, and yet after a month of record-breaking waiting times things still aren’t improving.

“The pressure in the ambulance service and in A&E departments is deeply intertwined, and so as the Health Secretary comes to parliament today, he must answer for his job and offer an apology to patients, families and staff.”

The Lib Dem leader wasn’t the only one to attack Humza Yousaf’s position, as Scottish Labour spokesperson Jackie Baillie described the situation as a crisis ‘spiralling further and further out of control’.

Tory MSP Sue Webber added: “These figures are shocking and reprehensible.

"They are further evidence that Humza Yousaf’s inaction and lack of leadership has led directly to A&E waiting times hitting yet another record high.