JACKIE BAILLIE COMMENTS ON DELAYED DISCHARGE, A&E, CANCELLED OPS
A&E
Commenting on the latest A&E stats which showed a rise in those waiting more than eight and 12 hours, Scottish Labour’s Health Spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “These spiralling waits show that the SNP has lost control of our NHS.
“With nearly one in five Scots waiting more than eight hours to be treated and nearly one in ten waiting more than 12, A&E is starting to resemble Russian roulette.
“The UK Labour government delivered a record Budget settlement but it’s essential the SNP spends the money on improving frontline services rather than frittering it away doing more of the same.
“Our NHS needs a new direction and Scottish Labour is ready to deliver it.”
Delayed discharge
Commenting on the November delayed discharge stats, which showed a 7 percent increase in bed days compared to the same month in 2023, Scottish Labour’s Health Spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “The SNP government once promised to end delayed discharge but instead it has created traffic jams in our hospitals.
“Thousands of patients are stuck in hospital limbo, while thousands more are waiting in hospital corridors because they can’t get a bed.
“Rather than wasting more millions on a failed National Care Service Bill, the SNP must work with social care providers to ensure patients can safely return home.
“Scottish Labour will put country before party and prioritise getting our NHS running smoothly again.”
Cancelled planned operations
Commenting on the cancelled planned operations report for the month ending 30 November 2024, which shows that the number of operations planned in 2024 was 3.2 per cent lower than the same point the previous year, while the number planned over the previous 12 months is 15.2 per cent lower than pre-pandemic levels, Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said “At a time when waiting lists are so high and thousands of Scots are waiting for treatment, it beggars belief that the number of operations taking place is falling.
“The SNP is consigning Scotland’s NHS to a spiral of decline – we need a change in direction.
“John Swinney has taken personal responsibility for fixing the crisis in our NHS and he will ultimately have to take responsibility for the consequences if he fails to do so.
“We need an urgent plan to expand capacity in our NHS, ramp up the number of operations taking place and get people the help they need with the urgency they deserve.”