Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Sue Webber for Lothian Region has urged the SNP Government to ensure patients in NHS Lothian will be treated at accident and emergency within four hours.
Sue Webber’s call comes after new statistics showed that only 81.6% of patients across Scotland were seen within four hours at accident and emergency departments. The SNP Government have a target of ensuring 95% of patients are seen within four hours. The figure was the lowest since prior to the pandemic in January 2020, when 81.5% of patients were seen within four hours. Various Scottish health boards have recently declared a ‘Code Black’ status. No mainland health board met the 95% target, with only 84.2% of patients seen in four hours in NHS Lothian.
Sue Webber MSP is calling on the SNP Government to back Scottish Conservative plans for a one-off £600 million investment in the NHS specifically designed to tackle waiting times. They have also called on SNP Ministers to urgently look into changing the rules for NHS staff who are double vaccinated and have tested negative but are still having to self-isolate and be off work.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Sue Webber said: “Our health service staff in NHS Lothian are continuing to go above and beyond and are under ever increasing pressure. “As they continue to fight Covid, it is imperative that SNP Ministers urgently give NHS Lothian the resources they require to see as many patients as possible within four hours at accident and emergency. “It is clear SNP Ministers have taken their eye off the ball as more patients attend our accident and emergency departments. It is hugely concerning that many patients are waiting well over four hours to be treated.
“SNP Ministers should urgently back Scottish Conservative plans for a one-off £600 million investment in our NHS to specifically tackle waiting times.
“They also must look at ways in which the current rules on self-isolation for fully vaccinated staff can be changed. That is only increasing pressure on other staff and meaning vital health services are not operating at full capacity.
“Prior to the pandemic, the SNP were routinely missing key targets and their record on health was truly abysmal. They need to up their game and ensure that patients don’t continue to be left waiting for hours for urgent treatment.”
