Patient could face treatment in Europe due to NHS delays
● Sturgeon slammed over 3,000 mile round trip for cataract treatment ● First Minister says ‘room for improvement’ in the system
A woman who was told she could travel to Europe for NHS treatment to avoid lengthy waits in Scotland has branded the system “mad.”
Elaine Hanby, 48, from Nairn, was diagnosed with a cataract two years ago but was told she faces a year-long wait for treatment at her local hospital, despite a government target of 18 weeks.
Mrs Hanby’s case was raised by Labour leader Kezia Dugdale at Holyrood yesterday who slammed the “3,000 mile round trip” to Europe for treatment. Mrs Hanby wrote to health secretary Shona Robison seeking information about the prospect of treatment on the continent, but ridiculed the system that prevented her from being treated here.
“I’m mobile. I can travel to hospital in Edinburgh or Glasgow or even in England. In Chester, where I used to live, the wait is 44 days. I was trying to highlight the fact that I could take £925 out of the NHS for the treatment (in Europe) instead of using the money in the UK which is mad.”
Mrs Hanby had initially sought treatment with NHS Highland when she was told of the prospect of a year-long wait. The mother of two, who is chairwoman of the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Widows Association, worked in the health service 20 years ago when she first became aware of the possibility of seeking treatment in Europe. She wrote to health secretary Shona Robison about this and to draw attention to her inability to seek treatment Uk-wide.
Ms Dugdale attacked Nicola Sturgeon over the issue at First Ministers Questions in Holyrood yesterday.
“The waiting time for Elaine Hanby’s cataract operation is shocking,” Ms Dugdale said.
“It is astounding that Mrs Hanby is being forced to consider going to Europe for treatment because she cannot get seen in her local hospital in Inverness.”
Ms Sturgeon said there is “more work to be done” on the NHS, but waiting times are lower today than when the SNP took office.
“We are committed to further increasing investment but also crucially carrying out the reforms in our NHS to make sure the NHS can cope with the pressures on it,” Ms Sturgeon added.
The First Minister said the government is determined to work with the NHS to drive down waiting times.
She said Labour had not committed as much spending on the NHS as the SNP had at the election last year.