Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Operations ‘ticking time bomb’ must be tackled
The SNP must tackle the “ticking time bomb” of operation backlogs says Tory MSP Graham Simpson.
The latest figures from ISD Scotland showed that 1944 fewer NHS Lanarkshire patients had operations in June than 12 months previously.
Central Scotland MSP Mr Simpson said: “The continued backlog of operations is of huge concern to patients who have already been suffering in recent weeks and months.
“While it was right NHS Lanarkshire focused on tackling Covid- 19, the SNP now need to urgently lay out how the backlog of operations will be tackled to ensure waiting time targets are not routinely missed again.
“Right now they are facing a ticking time bomb when it comes to targets for patients waiting to be seen.
“It is concerning to hear of patients already travelling south to tackle chronic pain issues as a result of health services restarting more slowly under the SNP.”
He added: “The safety of patients is paramount, but there still seems to be a real lack of urgency from Jeane Freeman and the SNP to tackle the backlog of operations.
“This should be rectified as a matter of urgency to patients waiting for operations.”
Meanwhile, Mr Simpson has also urged the SNP Government to give a new “lease of life” to the housing market.
In England and Northern Ireland, the move to raise the threshold at which Stamp Duty will be paid has been increased to £500,000.
However, with the SNP Government having their own Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, those seeking to purchase homes in Scotland will not benefit currently.
Mr Simpson said: “The cut in the stamp duty threshold is an incredible show of support for the housing market from the UK Government.
“The SNP Government now must urgently follow the Chancellor’s lead and raise the threshold on their own Land and Buildings Transactions Tax.
“As we come out of lockdown restrictions, we must be supporting our housing market, but that simply won’t happen if the SNP stick to their