Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jeremy Balfour for Lothian has said the situation in NHS Lothian has reached a critical point.
The call comes after the latest A&E waiting times across Scotland hit their lowest level in six years. Only 76% of patients were seen within four hours at A&E departments.
The SNP’s target says 95% of patients should be seen within four hours of arriving at A&E.
In Lothian only 76.5% were seen within four hours.
That was only slightly better than last week, but still well short of the SNP’s target.
Jeremy Balfour says SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf needs to work with frontline staff in Lothian to prevent a disaster in the NHS.
The Scottish Conservatives would invest an extra £600m in the NHS to specifically tackle waiting times, which would be led by a dedicated team of clinicians.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jeremy Balfour said:
“The situation in Lothian has reached a critical point.
“Patients are waiting hours on end in our A&E departments to be seen. That simply cannot continue.
“Targets are being missed week after week and our heroic frontline staff in Lothian are completely overwhelmed.
“Humza Yousaf cannot continue to deny there is a crisis in our NHS. He must urgently listen to those on the frontline in Lothian to prevent a disaster in our NHS.
“The Scottish Conservatives would support our NHS by investing a further £600 million to specifically tackle waiting times.
“That would allow services in Lothian to recover from the pandemic, and ensure patients would be seen as quickly as possible at A&E.”
