MSP claims Scottish NHS is in ‘state of crisis’

IAN BUNTING

Richard Leonard claims the NHS is in “a state of crisis” in Scotland after statistics revealed A&E waiting times last December were the worst on record.

The Central Scotland MSP has hit out at the SNP Government following the news only 83.8 per cent of patients were seen within four hours that month – below the government’s target of 95 per cent.

NHS Lanarkshire fell to 77.2 per cent – its worst performance since records began and the worst December figures of any health board in Scotland.

Mr Le o na r d also highlighted how since health secretary Jeane Freeman took office, the “cost of delayed discharge to Scottish health boards has reached £197.8 million, with the cost to NHS Lanarkshire now reaching over £26 million, accounting for 104,915 bed days lost to delayed discharge”.

The Scottish Labour leader said: “Under the SNP Government, our NHS is now in a state of crisis.

“After 13 years of SNP mismanagement and missed opportunities we have seen a sharp decline in our health service and a crisis in social care.

“We can’t continue to do social care on the cheap.

“Scottish Labour called for a fair deal for councils in this year’s budget, to put an end to the delayed discharge crisis that has cost our NHS hundreds of millions of pounds.

“It has cost NHS Lanarkshire over £ 26 million to deal with delayed discharges since Jeane Freeman took over as health secretary, despite promises there would be no more delayed discharges.

“Only investment will help end the social care crisis and improve the standard of health care on offer in Scotland.”

Missed opportunities Mr Leonard, pictured outside Monklands Hospital, has hit out at the SNP Government