However, The Herald asked every health board in Scotland for the design capacity of its emergency departments, and the actual number of beds occupied on the first of every month in 2025.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran admitted it faced continued and “sustained pressure” across the health care system after this newspaper’s investigation disclosed the acute challenges.
University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock has capacity for 28 patients in A&E, however the figures obtained through freedom of information requests have revealed it surpassed this number on seven months of last year.
In addition to the permitted 28 beds, the hospital is allowed to have in excess of eight patients in non-standard areas in extreme circumstances, meaning this protocol was also exceeded.
And in December 2025, 42 A&E beds were in use at the busy hospital, exceeding capacity by 14 additional beds, or 50%.
Crosshouse exceeded its design capacity in January, April, July, August, September, October and December.
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University Hospital Ayr has spaces for 20 patients in A&E, but exceeded this capacity four times on the first of each month through 2025, in June, September, October and December.
It also has four non-standard spaces to provide additional operational capacity, with that exceed in September and December last year, with 27 and 25 beds respectively.
The figures have been described as “intolerable” by one of the region’s MSP’s Brian Whittle.
Across Scotland, just 59% of patients were seen at A&E within the four hour target set by the Scottish Government on the week ending December 7.
For NHS Ayrshire and Arran, the target was met for 62.7% of patients.
However, of the 1,868 people for arrived for emergency care at one of the two acute hospitals, 348, or 18.6%, waited more than eight hours to be seen.
Another 249 people waited 12 hours or more, 13.3% of all attendees.
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There had been a slight improvement the following week, ending December 14, with 66.6% seen at A&E within four hours, while 15.5% waited more than eight and 9.9% waited more than 12 hours.
Mr Whittle, who is the public health spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: “These deeply alarming figures should be a source of shame for SNP ministers.
“Their appalling mismanagement of our NHS means hospitals like Crosshouse are operating in a state of permanent crisis and lives are being put at risk every single day.
“This corridor chaos is no fault of the dedicated staff who are going above and beyond to try and meet patient demand but have been abandoned by clueless SNP ministers.
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“This intolerable situation cannot continue in frontline care.”
Vicki Campbell, director of acute services at the health board said safety was the “priority” of NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
She said: “NHS Ayrshire and Arran is committed to delivering safe, effective care for our population.
“We continue to face sustained pressure across the whole health and care system, including primary care, community services and acute hospitals.
“High hospital occupancy means our emergency departments are exceptionally busy, while some patients waiting for admission.
“Patient and staff safety remains our priority and we focus on those needing urgent care.
“We ask the public to help by choosing the right service for their needs, such as self-care, NHS Inform, or GP services, and using emergency departments only for serious and life threatening emergencies.”
There have been growing calls for the Scottish Government to record and publish data on corridor care, with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Scotland finding around 19% of staff had to provide care to patients in inappropriate settings on a daily basis.
Colin Poolman, director of the RCN in Scotland, previously told The Herald corridor care had become “normalised”, warning the Scottish Government must urgently begin national reporting.
A separate report from the Royal College of Nursing in January found patients were regularly coming into harm because of corridor care.
Nursing staff reported being unable to access oxygen, cardiac monitors and other lifesaving equipment in the make-shift hospital wards.
Health Secretary Neil Gray denied last year that corridor care was becoming an “inevitable” part of hospital treatment, and in September, he confirmed the data was not recorded but said ministers were “actively considering” it.
He said the Scottish Government was clear “no patient should be treated in a space not fit for clinical care”.
While The Herald asked every health board for the data, many have not responded.
NHS Grampian said it has eight “overspill” bays primarily used for patients awaiting admission at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, while Dr Gray’s in Elgin had four “surge” beds which are used on a “very regular basis”. Monthly figures were not provided.
NHS Tayside said it’s capacity at Ninewells in Dundee was for 19 beds, but said 22 beds were regularly in use under capacity rules.