Poorly harvey, 9, must get op now

NO CHILD should have to suffer pain because they can’t get an operation in 21st century Scotland.

The fact that nine-year-old Harvey Martin has had to resort to begging the First Minister for help to end his suffering is a shocking indictment of the state of the NHS.

In her remaining days in office if there is one thing Nicola Sturgeon should do it’s make sure little Harvey gets the surgery he so desperately needs.

The youngster is in Primary Five and should be running around with his pals and enjoying playing in the school football team.

Instead he is in agony in a wheelchair anxiously awaiting surgery to mend the curve in his spine to stop his internal organs from being crushed.

Meanwhile, his parents become more worried every day watching him suffer agonising pain – all the while not knowing if the deterioration will be leave him permanently disabled. It is no way for any family to live. We know the First Minister will be moved by Harvey’s plight and the Scottish Government has already said sorry for the delay in his treatment but all the apologies in the world won’t help this lad.

He needs an operation to ease his pain and repair his damaged spine – not next week or next month but right now.

If his operation does not go ahead before Sturgeon leaves office next week, the new first minister must make Harvey’s surgery a priority.

If they are unable to arrange an operation for a suffering child on their watch they are unlikely to be the person to sort out the chaos which currently surrounds Scotland’s NHS. And that will be a disaster for us all.