Enough carping

Another damning report on the state of Scotland’s health service (Scotsman leader, 26 October), and once again the Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs jumps on the passing bandwagon. He is right to say the report exposes just how badly the SNP has mismanaged the NHS over the last ten years, but does it never occur to him that responsibility for these problems rests with his own Conservative Party, perhaps more than with the SNP?

On the same day a report has been released south of the Border saying that bedblocking in the NHS has increased by 40 per cent in the last year, and is estimated to result in as many as 8,000 deaths annually. On some days patients are taking up 6,000 beds they no longer need for hospital treatment. The problem is the lack of co-ordination between the NHS and local councils who have responsibility for social care. And more specifically, the problem is that Mr Briggs’ Conservative Party is underfunding the NHS and has cut council budgets, in the name of austerity.

We spend much less on our health service in this country than most other EU countries. The service that our NHS professionals provide is second to none. But the NHS is underfunded. The Lib Dems are proposing an extra penny on Income Tax, with the extra £6 billion going to the NHS. In 2001, Gordon Brown increased National Insurance by 1 per cent, with the proceeds committed to the NHS. We need this again, and more.

Instead of Miles Briggs constantly To judge by the response to Audit Scotland’s latest in a long line of shocking reports by the Scottish National Party’s Health Minister, Shona Robison, you would think there was little wrong. This is a typical reply by the SNP, who are rapidly failing Scotland in all departments but cannot countenance accepting any responsibility. For Ms Robison to highlight that there are “encouraging elements to the report” shows just how out of touch our current administration is. The health of the nation is fundamental. Ten years of SNP control over Scotland’s health (including six years under the stewardship of Nicola Sturgeon) have produced very little improvement. There may be a few bright spots but a 99 per cent increase in the number of people waiting more than 12 weeks for an outpatient appointment, the majority of key national performance targets not being met and the meltdown in GP services are all serious problems.

The SNP claim NHS Scotland is only safe in their hands but, at the same time, say there is simply no quick fix. We need a much more professional approach than this from the SNP. Fundamentally we are not getting one. (DR) GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow.