The Health Secretary is presiding over a ‘deepening NHS crisis’, Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency, has said today, as statistics have revealed the size of the NHS backlog.

As of the 30^th of September, as many as 125,557 patients were awaiting a key diagnostic test – a rise of 8.9%, over 10,000 people, from the previous quarter and 42% higher than the 12-month average before the pandemic. In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 35,983 patients are waiting for their diagnostic tests with a further 3,624 waiting in NHS Highland.

Statistics have also shown that 425,242 people are currently waiting on their first outpatient appointment. In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 123,063 are waiting for their first outpatient appointment with a further 18,525 waiting in NHS Highland.

At 30 September 2021, 106,496 patients were waiting to be admitted for inpatient or day case treatment under the 12 week Treatment Time Guarantee. In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 29,109 patients have been left waiting with a further 6,086 in NHS Highland.

Commenting, Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said:

“Today’s statistics clearly show that the NHS is facing a deepening crisis, with thousands of Scots stuck on waiting lists.

“This SNP government is presiding over record-breaking waiting lists and the threat to patient outcomes could not be clearer.

“Frontline NHS staff are working tirelessly to deliver for patients, but the SNP government has entirely failed to support them in their work.

“If lives are to be saved, the Health Secretary must act now.”