Yousaf denies that his government is failing Scotland’s children
The First Minister came under fire from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar after a raft of figures showed significant waits for children across a range of health areas.
A Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) report showed paediatric waits, excluding surgical, ear, nose and throat, cardiology and mental health, rose by 114.6 per cent between October 2012 and 2023.
The figures also showed the percentage of children waiting longer than 12 weeks rose from 1 per cent of all cases in 2012 to 48.9 per cent.
Speaking during First Minister's Questions, Mr Sarwar also addressed stagnating child poverty figures.
He said: “The report makes clear there’s 11 years of decline – every day of which there has been an SNP Government.
“The crisis in children’s health goes further than even this report warns. Across our NHS, whether in Camhs (mental health) services or other specialisms, children face unacceptable waits that have left them distressed and in pain. Isn’t it clear that Humza Yousaf and every member of this SNP are failing Scotland’s children?”
The First Minister replied: “No, I don't agree with that. There is progress being made.”
He said ministers are taking the RCPCH report “very seriously”, but he argued data from April to December 2023 showed the paediatric new outpatients list reduced by 21 per cent, while waits over 52 weeks reduced by 12 per cent and 78 weeks by 31 per cent.
Mr Yousaf added: “We’re also making sure that we’re investing in the workforce. Paediatric specialty consultants, we have increased the number by 15 per cent in the last five years, by 64 per cent in the last 10 years.
“I don’t take lightly at all the issues that Anas Sarwar raises about the long waits that parents and children are having to suffer.”
But Mr Sarwar said: “He simply does not get it. In every area of responsibility from the SNP Government, children are being failed with catastrophic consequences.”
Dr Mairi Stark, RCPH Scotland officer, said the lengthy waits signified “a clear failure to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our children”.