NHS underfunding now a ‘scandal’, Sturgeon is told
● First Minister defends health record at Holyrood ● Claims of 7-month wait to be seen
Nicola Sturgeon faced claims yesterday that funding shortfalls in the NHS have become a “scandal” and that the service is now in “crisis.”
The First Minister was told that one patient, left struggling to walk with a blocked artery, is facing a seven-month wait for an appointment in the NHS as she faced MSPS at Holyroodthe criticism from opposition leaders at First Minister’s Questions came after a new report from public spending watchdog Audit Scotland warned that funding shortfalls has the left the service struggling to keep pace with changes.
Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: “I think we need to spell out things for what they are and that’s the failure of this government to get grips with the NHS and it is an outrage.
“And yet we learn today that because of this government’s failure to manage staffing there has been a 47 per cent increase in agency nursing and midwifery staff and – staggeringly – that individual agency doctors are being paid over £400,000 each to provide cover for periods of less than a year. And all of that while patient care suffers from cuts and hospital buildings are left to crumble – I call it a scandal.
Labourleaderkeziadugdale raised the case of James Neilson, a 77-year old former miner who has a blocked artery in his leg. He has been advised by NHS Lothian that he will have to wait seven months to see a consultant.
But the First Minister insistthe ed that funding for the NHS Scotland has been increasing since the SNP came to power.
“Health service funding is higher than when we came to office, the number of people working in our health service is higher than when we took office and waiting times are lower,” the First Minister.
She added that the amount spent on agency nurses in Scotland is a third of the level Uk-wide.
“Our NHS faces challenges, but these challenges are not unique to Scotland they are challenges faced by health systems around the world,” Ms Sturgeon added.