Highlands and Islands MSP, Edward Mountain today challenged the First Minister to urgently resolve long waiting times in NHS Highland, after it was revealed that orthopaedic patients were having to wait up to 78 weeks for surgery.
During a session of First Minister’s Questions, Edward Mountain MSP asked: “Last week I asked the First Minister about the poor financial management of NHS Highland, in the past I’ve asked her about the appalling bullying in NHS Highland. This time I rise to ask about the 78-week delay for orthopaedic operations in NHS Highland, with only 54% of patients getting operations within the treatment time guarantee. First Minister, what have you asked the Cabinet Secretary to do to resolve these serious issues?
The First Minister replied: “Well, I hope Edward Mountain would be very familiar with the actions the Health Secretary is taking , in terms of the allegations of around bullying, the Sturrock report that looked into these issues in NHS Highland.We work closely with NHS Highland and indeed other health boards in terms of their financial management and we are putting record funding into the health service. There is an £850m waiting times initiative targeting waits that are too long in the NHS. And of course the most recent Audit Scotland report, while it had many important things to say, it also recognised that in the face of rising demand performance was improving against most of these waiting times targets.”
Following the First Minister’s Questions, Edward Mountain MSP commented:
“The First Minister’s words will be cold comfort to patients in the Highlands who are suffering with excruciating pain and putting their lives on hold as a result.
I welcome the £850m funding to cut waiting times but the First Minister neglected to mention that only £7m of that funding has gone to NHS Highland so far.
No one should have to wait around 18 months for surgery especially as Nicola Sturgeon promised they could expect treatment with 12 weeks. It is about time this Scottish Government stopped ignoring the Highlands and helped resolve the issues of our NHS service.”