Waiting times at Scotland’s emergency departments have slightly improved, but one in three patients are still waiting more than four hours, according to new figures.

Statistics released by Public Health Scotland showed that 67.7 per cent of patients in the week up to September 4 were seen within four hours or less – up from 66.1 per cent for the previous week.

That figure, however, is still far short of the Scottish Government’s target of ensuring that 95 per cent of attendances at A&E are seen and subsequently discharged or admitted within four hours.

The statistics have been consistently below the target in recent years and have not risen above 70 per centsince May.

Of the 27,016 attendances at A&E in the week up to September 4, 8,730 people waited less than four hours.

This is compared to 2,660 who were seen in eight hours or less and 982 people dealt with in under 12 hours.

According to separate figures released earlier this month, A&E waiting times in July were at the worst monthly level on record.