Local MSP, Jackie Baillie, has raised concerns over the health of the health service after new figures for the 18-week referral to treatment standard revealed that 8,607 patient ‘journeys’ took longer than the 18-week target in the first three months of 2018.

The Scottish Government’s target is that 90 percent of patients should have a completed pathway to treatment within 18 weeks, however, in Greater Glasgow and Clyde the reality is that this barely reached 86 percent.

Scottish Labour has established a workforce commission to develop a blueprint to fix the NHS staffing crisis for good.

Jackie said:

“NHS staff are the heroes of our health service, they work hard round the clock to provide the care that Scots need but it is becoming increasingly clear that they are facing an uphill battle under this SNP Government.

“Across Scotland, more than 55,000 patients waited longer than 18-weeks, and here in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde it was 8,607 patients, so the problems facing the health service go well beyond one health board. Patients and staff are being failed by a health secretary who is out of her depth