Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire says a “summer of inaction” from SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has led to NHS Borders reaching breaking point.
Mrs Hamilton has hit out after the latest A&E waiting times across Scotland showed only 75.1% of patients were seen within the SNP’s four-hour target time for patients to be seen.
This was the third week in a row that waiting times had plummeted to a record low. The SNP’s own target says 95% of patients should be seen within four hours.
Last week only 67.7% of A&E patients in NHS Borders were seen within four hours. This was 1.4% lower than the week before, and significantly below the SNP’s 95% target.
Mrs Hamilton is urging the SNP Health Secretary to heed the warnings in NHS Borders and ensure waiting times do not completely spiral out of control.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton said: “Alarm bells have been ringing for some time with shocking A&E figures in NHS Borders and now they appear to have reached breaking point.
“Humza Yousaf’s summer of inaction has overwhelmed our heroic staff on the frontline and people across Scotland are finding it increasingly harder to access crucial care services.
“The SNP Government’s NHS Recovery plan simply arrived too late to prevent this crisis in NHS Borders and now waiting times are threatening to completely spiral out of control.
“It is crucial SNP Ministers make it easier for people in the borders to access GPs on their own doorsteps to ease the pressure on A&E services. The potential closure of surgeries in Coldingham and Eyemouth should be prevented in order to make this easier.
“Far too many patients are waiting hours on end to be seen after arriving at A&E which is completely unsustainable going forward.”