by Bill Heaney
A Scottish Labour government would give NHS waiting lists the chop and rescue Scotland’s NHS from 20 years of SNP failure, according to Anas Sarwar.
The Scottish Labour leader will say Scotland needs change and that a Scottish Labour government would fix the mess, get the basics right, and build a better future for Scotland.
Mr Sarwar will say his priority as First Minister would be to put our NHS first by cutting waiting lists, ending the 8 am rush for a GP appointment, and bringing back the family doctor.
Scottish Labour said that after 20 years of SNP government, patients are being left waiting in pain, families are being let down, and frontline staff are being asked to carry the burden of a government that has run the NHS into the ground.
The party said it would tackle the backlog by declaring a waiting times emergency, breaking down barriers between health boards, and reforming NHS funding so money follows the patient and people can be treated wherever there is capacity.
A Scottish Labour government would use all available capacity across Scotland and the UK to get patients treated faster, including short-term use of independent sector capacity where needed, so patients are not forced to go private for care they should get on the NHS.
Scottish Labour said it would also get the basics right across the wider health service by ending corridor care, reducing delayed discharge, and speeding up ambulance turnaround times so staff can focus on treating patients instead of working in a system clogged up by SNP failure.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, right, said: “Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP. They have left patients waiting in pain, left families without answers, and pushed our NHS to breaking point.
“You have given the SNP 20 years, and Scotland has paid the price. Give me five to save our NHS.
“I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right, and build a better future for Scotland.
“A Scottish Labour government I lead will give NHS waiting lists the chop.
“We will declare a waiting times emergency, use every bit of available capacity to get people treated faster, end the 8 am rush for a GP, and bring back the family doctor.
“This election is a straight choice between more SNP failure and change with Scottish Labour.
“On May 7, vote for Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”
If I may inelegantly quip in a totally non political non partisan way but it might be Anas who will be for the chop next Thursday.
But who knows, promise the moon, they are all at it. But do they deliver. That’s maybe a question for Sir Keir and his mucker Lord Mandelson. But we are not voting for them up here.
Ah well, less than four days till the polls open and for who the bells toll.