The SNP has been accused of “incompetence” after figures revealed nearly one million Scots are languishing on NHS waiting lists. The number of patients waiting for treatment has risen to 879,215, a 1.2% increase from 868,426 in June last year. Meanwhile, over 100,000 Scots have been waiting over a year for treatment, an 8% rise in twelve months.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “A string of failed SNP Health Secretaries and First Ministers have promised to tackle Scotland’s shameful waiting lists but things are worse than ever before. Hundreds of thousands of Scots are languishing on NHS waiting lists for months or even years on end – left in limbo and in pain waiting for the care they desperately need.”
First Minister John Swinney has prioritised NHS recovery since taking office, but the latest statistics show the scale of the challenge. A&E performance has also worsened, with only 63.5% of patients seen within the four-hour target in the week ending August 17, down from 64.7% the previous week. The number waiting more than eight hours rose from 11.1% to 12%.
Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane said: “After nearly two decades of chronic SNP mismanagement, the backlog in our NHS has spiralled out of control, with one in six Scots trapped on a waiting list. The SNP promised to reduce waiting times, but these shocking figures show this is yet another broken promise.”
Health Secretary Neil Gray defended the government’s record, stating: “The Scottish Government remains laser focussed on reducing waiting times. We are seeing increased activity in diagnostics and new-outpatient and inpatient day-case procedures when compared with last year. We are investing more than £110 million this year to make it easier and faster for patients to get access to the treatment they need.”
