Damning NHS audit is blasted
MSPs have condemned the Scottish Government’s handling of the NHS following the publication of a critical report by auditors.
Audit Scotland’s latest annual report, published last week, found that Scotland’s health “is not improving” as the NHS faces “significant challenges”.
The watchdogs’ report listed concerns including missed targets, longer waiting times and increasing pressure on budgets.
Scottish Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar blamed the Health Secretary, branding Shona Robison “out of her depth and out of ideas”.
During a Holyrood debate, he described the document as the “worst Audit Scotland report since devolution on the state of the NHS”, arguing Robison had offered “zero recognition of the failings laid at her door by Audit Scotland”.
He said: “Broken promises to staff and patients, failed on NHS funding, failed on workforce planning, failed on waiting times – this cannot go on.
“This is a Cabinet Secretary who is out of her depth, out of ideas and out of time.”
Robison welcomed the report and accepted all of its recommendations.
She said: “Audit Scotland’s report recognises that our course of action is the right one. They acknowledge our focus on safety and improvement, and that levels of patient satisfaction are at an all-time high.”