MSPs in NHS spat

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has slammed Tory leader Ruth Davidson for misrepresenting the work the SNP do to improve the NHS in Scotland.

Her comments come following January 12 first minister’s questions when Ms Davidson got her facts “wrong”,“incorrectly” claiming that teams from NHS England are working in hospitals in Scotland.

She went on to claim parliament had no opportunity to question ministers over the trauma centre announcement.

Ms Davidson is said to also have confused £200 million investment in five new elective health centres with the development of four major trauma centres.

Ms Haughey said:“Ruth Davidson’s performances at FMQs get worse and worse by the week – and it’s clear she’s not done her homework, or even read the news. Ms Davidson did nothing but misrepresent the work we are doing to improve Scotland’s NHS with repeatedly inaccurate and incorrect claims.

“Ruth Davidson talked absolute nonsense when she claimed a team from NHS England had been tasked with improving performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, when in fact the Scottish Government has put in place a support team to help the QEUH during a challenging time.

“The Tories took a widely welcomed announcement on a new trauma network, flipped it on its head, confused it with our investment in elective centres, and claimed it was a bad thing.”

In response to Ms Haughey’s comments, the Scottish Conservatives hit back, branding her methods‘embarrassing’ and insisting Ms Davidson made no mention of elective centres.

A spokesman said: “Clare Haughey need only read the day’s papers to see who people believe on this matter. It’s embarrassing that she’s attempting to defend her party’s shocking record on the NHS in this way.”