A probe has been launched after two patients died while waiting to be seen in a Glasgow hospital.

The patients died from heart attacks while waiting in an accident and emergency unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital amid growing concerns about waiting times.

The deaths occurred despite the rule that all new arrivals are seen within 15 minutes to be assessed for the seriousness of their case.

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It is understood the patients were in a queue, the Daily Record reports.

This comes after the Royal College of Emergency Medicine warned that long waits for treatment have contributed to 'hundreds' of avoidable deaths.

Last week Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton demanded an inquiry into the number of patients who have died.

He said: "The Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for an urgent inquiry into avoidable deaths caused by the crisis in emergency care.

"These tragic cases highlight exactly why that inquiry is needed. For every extra hour people wait for an ambulance or wait in A&E, there is a demonstrable risk of further fatalities like this will happen."

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman, added: "This is obviously a tragic set of incidents that requires investigation. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has warned the SNP government time and time again that long waiting times will lead to people losing their lives.

"Action must be taken by Humza Yousaf as a matter of urgency."

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A spokesman for Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board, which runs the QEUH, said: "Our staff are working extremely hard at a time of considerable pressure and they are doing their very best to prioritise care to patients most in need.

"While we cannot comment on individual patients, we have clear and robust processes for reviewing the care we provide and where issues are identified we work closely with the relevant services to implement required changes.

"We work extremely hard to find solutions to staffing challenges and we work closely with services to mitigate issues that arise and ensure as much as possible that the impact on patient care is minimised.

"We would like to extend our sympathy to families who have lost a loved one.

"These tragic cases show why an inquiry is needed."