Patients in Waikato, New Zealand, are facing extreme wait times in emergency departments, with reports of individuals waiting up to 27 hours for care, as staffing shortages and increased demand overwhelm the system. The situation has been exacerbated by a lack of community care beds and outdated IT systems, leading to critical incidents where patients deteriorate while waiting. Meanwhile, in Scotland, NHS waiting lists have reached a record high of 864,366 patients, with many waiting over a year for treatment or tests. Despite government efforts to set targets for reducing wait times, these goals remain unachieved, with increasing numbers of patients turning to private care to avoid long delays. Critics, including Scottish Conservative and Labour representatives, have condemned the SNP's handling of the NHS, citing the backlog as a significant threat to patient safety and care. Both regions illustrate a growing concern regarding healthcare accessibility and efficiency, highlighting a need for urgent reforms.