Scotland’s Labour leader Anas Sarwar and First Minister John Swinney.
By Bill Heaney
Labour leader Anas Sarwar told the Scottish Parliament today: “After seventeen years of this SNP Government, the crisis in our NHS is deepening. Over 820,000 Scots are on an NHS waiting list.
“People who are waiting in pain are using their savings and borrowing money from loved ones to pay for private treatment.
“People can’t get GP appointments and thousands have waited more than four hours in A&E for treatment since the start of the year. “
He added: “And now because of this Government’s financial mismanagement, NHS and social care services face a black hole this year of up to £1.4 billion.
“His financial mismanagement and the £1.4 billion black hole this has created will impact on the delivery of every service, in every part of the country.
“In just the past few weeks:
“Inverclyde’s Out of Hours GP service has been permanently reduced, with patients now facing a 50-mile round trip to access overnight appointments.
“In the City of Glasgow, over 150 jobs have been lost in health and social care services.
“In North Ayrshire, care home places have been reduced and charges for vulnerable people have increased.
“And in Edinburgh, unions have warned that social care cuts will mean, in their words, “Thousands of hours of support will be cut; hospitals, care homes, prison cells and morgues will fill up as a consequence.”
Mr Sarwar said nothing about West Dunbartonshire where there were no mental health beds available this week.
He told MSPs: “Our NHS is weaker than ever, staff are under unbearable pressure and patients are being asked to accept the unacceptable all because of the decisions this Government has made.
“As Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary, John Swinney cut hundreds of millions of pounds from health and social care budgets.
“In one year alone:
“He cut £70 million from social care, while people were stuck in hospital unable to get a care package.
“He cut £65 million from primary care services, making it more difficult for people to get a GP appointment.
“He cut £38 million from mental health services, leaving people in crisis waiting longer to get the help they need.
“And he raided IJB budgets for over £300 million – the same local services that are facing funding gaps now.”
Mr Sarwar added: ““It’s no wonder that people across Scotland are asking how can the man who created the mess in our NHS be the one to fix it?”
Billions spent on mental health and tribunal lawyers wasted on forced treatment. And they always want more money. No human rights. Too much spent on abuse. One day, people will see the connection.