Borders parliamentarians are urging SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to deliver a proper remobilisation plan for the NHS, to curb ‘unacceptable’ A&E waiting times.
In the Borders, only 65% were seen within four hours, which was worse than the previous week (77%) and well short of the SNP’s 95% target.
The Borders now sits below the Scottish average of 71.5% of people seen within four hours at A&E, with the second worst rate in the country.
Both Rachael Hamilton MSP and John Lamont MP say the SNP Government has completely failed to get on top of an A&E crisis in the Borders.
They have criticised the Scottish Government over their lack of detail to help the NHS recover post-pandemic and have said more support must be given to hardworking NHS staff.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Rachael Hamilton said:
“The Borders remains in the grip of an A&E crisis, and far too many patients are waiting hours on end to be seen upon arriving at an A&E department. It is simply unacceptable.
“People should not be put off attending A&E in a genuine emergency, but there should also be sufficient GP appointments to cope with demand.
“The SNP have completely failed to get on top of this situation and waiting times in NHS Borders have spiralled as a result.
“Our fantastic staff on the frontline are doing a brilliant job, but they have failed to be supported by the SNP’s Health Secretary.
“The flimsy document which Humza Yousaf has tried to dress-up as an NHS recovery plan, doesn’t begin to scratch the surface in getting waiting times under control in NHS Borders.
“Humza Yousaf must get a grip on this crisis immediately and guarantee patients attending A&E at the BGH will always be treated as quickly as possible.”
John Lamont MP said:
“These statistics are eye watering and show the massive pressure that the hardworking NHS staff are under right now.
“More than 10% of people attending the BGH A&E last week waited more than 12 hours to be seen, which is staggering to say the least.
“The four hour waiting target is being missed by some distance and is one of the worst performances in Scotland, sitting only behind Forth Valley.
“The whole NHS is under huge pressure right now, from our GPs to the ambulance service. From what I hear from local people, many NHS workers are still testing positive which is contributing to this pressure.
“The SNP need to get a grip of this crisis and start supporting local health boards to tackle this situation before the system is completely overwhelmed.”
