Plea on musculoskelatal waiting times
A Tory MSP said the SNP must“step up”on musculoskeletal waiting times in Ayrshire.
Her call comes after figures show just 39.2 per cent of patients were seen for a musculoskeletal appointment within the four-week target. But the SNP target states that 95 per cent of patients should receive an appointment within four weeks of a referral.
The figures take in the financial quarter which ended on September 30, 2021 and released by Public Health Scotland.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist South Scotland List MSP Sharon Dowey said: “Patients with diseases in their joints, bones, and ligaments can’t afford to wait to longer than four weeks for an appointment.
“Health Secretary Humza Yousaf must recognise this and step up to the plate.
“Some health boards, such as NHS Grampian are seeing 80 per cent of patients within four weeks, so why are just 40 per cent being seen in Ayrshire and Arran?
“Unless the SNP step in, more patients will continue waiting longer than four weeks for an appointment.
“Frontline staff in NHS Ayrshire and Arran have worked so hard over the past year and during the festive period. Will Humza Yousaf make 2022 the year that he finally steps up and supports our NHS staff and the health service?”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:“While more people are being seen within four weeks, performance still needs to improve further, and we continue to work closely with Boards to support the reduction of waiting times against the challenges of increased demand as Scotland continues to be in the midst of a global pandemic.”