Jeane’s job is a huge challenge

IF NEW Health Secretary Jeane Freeman had any doubts about the challenges ahead, her first full day in the job will have removed them.

When a new minister feels the need to brand mental health services for children “completely unacceptable” something has gone terribly wrong.

The truth is the NHS in Scotland is stretched to breaking point with fresh signs of crisis almost daily.

This week had already seen one of the worst set of cancer waiting times and allegations of a culture of bullying and harassment at NHS Lothian.

Meanwhile, the British Medical Association say doctors in Scotland are being “pushed to the brink” by a lack of resources and staff shortages

Now we learn that vulnerable youngsters in need of “urgent” mental health treatment are being abandoned by the system.

And the Scottish NHS is expecting to be more than £131million in the red this year even after having made cuts.

So it’s no wonder former health secretary Shona Robison volunteered to jump before Nicola Sturgeon had to push her this week.

There’s no point blaming individuals but it is beyond doubt that the SNP Government are presiding over an NHS on life support.

Freeman is an extremely talented and diligent politician.

She is respected across the political spectrum and takes on the health secretary job with a lot of goodwill.