Alex Salmond has held up NHS Tayside as an example of how to improve accident and emergency waiting times after a report revealed the number of patients stranded for more than four hours has almost trebled in five years.
The First Minister came under fire from opposition leaders about the “crisis” in hospital A&E units.
Public spending watchdogs Audit Scotland found almost 104,000 people waited beyond the standard four-hour target in 2012/13, compared with about 36,000 in 2008-9.
The proportion of people being seen within the four-hour target fell from 97.2% at the end of 2009 to 93.5% by December last year, the report revealed.
Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary were singled out as examples that should be followed across Scotland.
Labour leader Johann Lamont said the First Minister had promised action on A&E waiting times last year but added: “Those waiting more than four hours for treatment has tripled on his watch.”
While the target is for 98% of people attending A&E to be seen within four hours, the Scottish Government introduced an interim target of 95%.
Ms Lamont said the Audit Scotland report revealed that the Scottish Government plans to review the 95% interim target after September this year.
Mr Salmond said measures already taken including the emergency care action plan and more staff had been welcomed by the health profession.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the problem goes beyond the four-hour waiting time target.
“The First Minister likes to blame almost everyone else when things go wrong but isn’t it the case that it is this SNP Government that has overseen the NHS in Scotland for the past seven years?”
Mr Salmond insisted his administration was taking action and he criticised Tory-led changes to the NHS in England.
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the Scottish Government is taking conflicting action on the NHS.
Mr Rennie said: “He’s got one half of his Government trying to get people out of hospital and the other half giving all the financial incentives to stay in hospital. That doesn’t make sense.”
Mr Salmond replied: “We are in a position where accident and emergency waiting times are improving; our accident and emergency staff all over the country are treating more patients than ever before.
“We are implementing lessons where best practice is ensuring very substantial results, as is the case in Tayside and elsewhere.”