Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson, says Humza Yousaf’s measures to tackle A&E waiting times are having a “minimal effect” in Lanarkshire.
Mr Simpson’s call comes after the latest weekly waiting time statistics showed that NHS Lanarkshire once again fell well short of meeting the SNP’s target.
They state that 95% of patients should be treated within four hours of arriving at A&E, but in Lanarkshire, that figure was only 71.6%. At Wishaw General Hospital the figure was as low as 63.9%.
Mr Simpson said staff across NHS Lanarkshire are working flat out but are being let down by reactive measures from Humza Yousaf, rather than seeing the SNP Health Secretary give frontline staff the resources they need.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP, Graham Simpson said: “We are rapidly approaching the peak winter period, but A&E waiting times in Lanarkshire are still falling well short of the SNP’s target.
“Our heroic and overwhelmed staff in NHS Lanarkshire are continuing to go above and beyond but they need to be fully supported by Humza Yousaf.
“All too often, Humza Yousaf has denied that our A&E departments in are in crisis and delivered knee-jerk policies.
“Staff and patients deserve a Health Secretary who has truly got a grip on this situation. His plans so far have only had a minimal effect on waiting times in Lanarkshire, which are still completely unacceptable.”
Notes:
The figures for week ending 14 November are here: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics-week-ending-14-november-2021/
And figures for 7 November are here: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics/nhs-performs-weekly-update-of-emergency-department-activity-and-waiting-time-statistics-week-ending-7-november-2021/
