Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has emphasised the importance of the vaccine booster programme as local health boards recorded reductions in the number of operations carried out.
Between August and September the number of operations carried out in the NHS Highland Health Board area fell from 860 to 619, while in the Western Isles, the numbers reduced from 98 to 70.
The Scottish Conservative MSP said: “I share the widespread concern that Humza Yousaf’s NHS Recovery Plan is simply not robust enough to tackle the challenges facing the health service. Across Scotland we are seeing too many operations cancelled with, sometimes, very little notice given, which is worrying."
“We need a more active and focused approach from the Scottish Government and high up the list must be the vaccine booster programme which is absolutely key to protecting the most vulnerable from the effects of Covid and keeping our hospitals free to carry out other procedures such as operations.”
The figures referred to by Donald Cameron are available here: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancelled-planned-operations/cancelled-planned-operations-month-ending-30-september-2021/
the relevant figures are:
Highland August (860) September (619)- Difference 28% decrease
Western Isles August (98) September (70)- Difference 28% decrease