NHS ‘in crisis’ claim by MSP
Rutherglen locals are missing out on key operations due to the NHS being in“crisis”, an MSP has claimed.
A number of locals in the Royal Burgh still use NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for procedures and appointments, despite the town being considered part of South Lanarkshire.
The health board, which is Scotland’s largest, last week announced that it is pausing all non-urgent elective operations so that they can focus on prioritising urgent treatment and cancer care.
The decision has been slammed as “deeply concerning” by Pam DuncanGlancy, the Labour list MSP for the Glasgow region.
Ms Duncan-Glancy told the Reformer: “This is deeply concerning for my constituents in Rutherglen.
“Our whole NHS is in crisis and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is at the sharp end of it. This decision will lead to patients missing out on important procedures so that staff can be reprioritised to keep A+Es afloat.
“This deadly crisis is not the result of the pandemic; the NHS was on its knees before Covid. It is the result of more than 15 years of mismanagement and incompetence from the SNP Government.
“Hardworking NHS staff are being abandoned, they are being run ragged and despite doing their best to provide top-quality care, care is being compromised. Patient safety is at risk and lives are being lost.
“This cannot go on. The SNP must urgently recognise the scale of this crisis, and act to save the NHS. That starts by getting rid of Humza Yousaf and making way for a Health Secretary that will take action.”
Other Rutherglen locals will use NHS Lanarkshire services, but that health board is currently facing a Code Black emergency due to a lack of available beds in hospitals.
An NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde spokeswoman told us: “Our services, like the whole of NHS Scotland, are facing major pressures, including significant Covid, flu and norovirus cases.”
“To support our A&E departments, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has taken the decision to pause additional and non-urgent elective procedures to prioritise urgent treatment and cancer care. This decision was not taken lightly and is under constant review.
“We would like to apologise to patients waiting for an elective procedure, we will make every possible effort to offer them an alternative date at the first opportunity.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf responded: “Pandemic backlogs, inflation costs and Brexit influencing staff shortages have all contributed to make this winter the most challenging the NHS has ever faced. Extraordinary rises in flu and increases in Covid and Strep A have heightened pressure on already stretched services.
“We are doing everything we can to help the health service through the remainder of the most challenging winter in its history. This includes easing delayed discharge by purchasing additional care beds for those who are fit to leave hospital, and ensuring adequate resource is in place for NHS24. Our ambulance service staff are also providing treatment, where appropriate, to help avoid hospital admission. Our resilience committee is monitoring the situation in emergency departments extremely closely and we remain in daily contact with health boards. My thanks to all health and care staff for their extraordinary efforts during these exceptionally challenging times.”