Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Central Scotland, Graham Simpson, says that the increasing number of planned operations being cancelled in Lanarkshire is hugely depressing for patients.
Mr Simpson’s call comes as new statistics showed that 10.2% of all planned operations in August were cancelled across Scotland’s health boards, up from 9.4% in July. Almost 900 operations were cancelled due to capacity or non-clinical reasons.
Across NHS Lanarkshire in August 212 operations were cancelled, including 44 due to capacity reasons.
Mr Simpson says these cancellations are a huge setback for patients both physically and mentally, as many will be lying in agony.
He added that this is further evidence that SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf’s NHS Recovery Plan has completely failed to remobilise frontline services in NHS Lanarkshire.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP, Graham Simpson said: “The continued increase in operations being cancelled is hugely depressing for patients in Lanarkshire who are suffering.
“Many of these patients in NHS Lanarkshire are lying in agony, so being told their operation won’t be going ahead as planned is a major setback both physically and mentally.
“These cancellations are further proof that Humza Yousaf’s flimsy NHS Recovery Plan is failing frontline services in the region.
“His winter plan is too little too late as well and fails to outline how the number of operations taking place in Lanarkshire will increase – as it urgently needs to.
“He must finally get a grip of this crisis or patients will continue to suffer as they endure endless delays for operation to take place.”
