Robison under fire over missed NHS targets
● Statistics show more patients waiting longer for treatment
Health secretary Shona Robison was under mounting pressure last night over her stewardship of the NHS after new figures showed key waiting times targets have been missed.
Official statistics showed a 10 per cent fall in meeting the target for key diagnostic tests, including procedures to detect cancer.
The Scottish Government has said patients should wait no longer than six weeks for eight diagnostic tests including MRI scans.
Only 82.9 per cent of patients waited less than six weeks in June compared to 92.2 per cent at the same time last year.
Over the same period the number of patients waiting more than six weeks increased from 4,800 to 13,600.
Ms Robison reacted to the figures by announcing the creation of an expert group to cut waiting times. But amid speculation intensifying that Nicola Sturgeon is about to reshuffle her Cabinet, opposition politicians called for Ms Robison to be replaced.
The data, produced by ISD Scotland, also showed that in June the 18-week referral to treatment target was met for 84.8 per cent of patients, down from 87 per cent last year. Only five out of 15 health boards achieved the 90 per cent standard, not met nationally since June 2014.
Figures also show that in the three months to June, 81.4 per cent of patients waiting for either inpatient or day treatment were seen within the 12-week treatment-time guarantee. It compares to 82.2 per cent in the previous quarter and a more dramatic fall from 91.3 per cent in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, 74 per cent of patients waiting for a new outpatient appointment at 30 June had been waiting 12 weeks or fewer, down from 80.7 per cent at 31 March and 85.7 per cent at the same point last year.
Labour health spokesman Anas Sawar said: “This cannot go on. If Nicola Sturgeon is planning a reshuffle she should move Shona Robison from the health brief and send a message that she is finally willing to give the health service the support it needs.”
Gregor Mcnie, Cancer Research UK’S public affairs manager for Scotland, said: “It is extremely worrying that the NHS in Scotland is failing to cope with the increased demand for diagnostic tests, and patients are continuing to suffer. Patients must be diagnosed and treated early if they are to have the best chance of surviving cancer. ”
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said the waiting figures were a “disgrace”.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find an NHS target the SNP does consistently hit,” Mr Briggs said. “Its stewardship of the health service has been a disgrace.”
Lib Dem health spokesman Alex Cole-hamilton said the treatment time guarantee was “not worth the paper it is written on”, adding: “Responsibility for the waiting times crisis lies squarely at the door of SNP ministers.”
Msrobison’s electiveaccess collaborative programme will bring together experts from the Scottish Government, NHS Scotland and the Royal Colleges to provide support to health boards. It will be led by the Chair of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Professor Derek Bell, and the chief executive of NHS Fife, Paul Hawkins.
The health secretary said: “Today’s announcement will provide expert support to transform care.”