Local MSP Jackie Baillie has accused the SNP of presiding over an NHS “winter meltdown”.

New figures reveal more than 17 per cent of cancer patients in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and 14 per cent of cancer patients in NHS Highland missed the 62-day cancer referral to treatment standard under the SNP. The 31-day standard that covers the time from the decision to treat and the patient’s first treatment was also missed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Meanwhile, fewer than 87 per cent of A&E attendees were seen within the four-hour target at the RAH in Paisley, with a total of 30 patients forced to wait over eight hours in just one week.

Jackie Baillie said the figures showed Scotland’s NHS was in a “winter meltdown” as a result of SNP mismanagement.

Jackie said:

“It is absolutely shameful that both health boards covering cancer patients in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh are missing the 62-day cancer referral to treatment target. Cancer remains Scotland’s biggest killer and these figures clearly show the SNP is failing patients, families and staff across Scotland. 

“While local people are still forced to travel across the Erskine Bridge to Paisley in an emergency, the least they should expect is quick treatment at the RAH. Instead, more than one in ten people have to wait over four hours at A&E and dozens of people are spending more than eight hours in waiting rooms. This is a disgrace and it is clear Scotland could now be facing an A&E winter meltdown under the SNP.

“Our doctors and nurses do fantastic work, but they have been left over-worked, under-valued and under-resourced by this SNP government. Scottish Labour would use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to ensure we have a health service that works for the many, not the few.”

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