Highland MSP hits out over the 'lack' of support and resources for NHS Highland from the Scottish Government
HIGHLAND regional MSP David Stewart has hit out at the Scottish Government saying it is not giving NHS Highland “the support and resources” it needs after it emerged patients can wait up to a year for a knee replacement.
A freedom of information request by the MSP showed that 90 per cent of routine patients – as of June – were waiting more than 52 weeks.
Mr Stewart has confirmed he would be writing to health minister Jean Freeman calling for action after two constituents complained separately about the waiting times.
“In both cases I was told that the people were in pain and each said they couldn’t be prescribed stronger pain killers because the GP was concerned of creating an opiate addiction,” he said.
“No-one should have to wait so long for such surgery and obviously the health authority is in no way meeting the waiting time guarantee. It is a sad reflection on the state of our health service today and our NHS staff are simply not getting the support and resources they need to give patients the care they deserve.”
A spokesman for the health board said: “NHS Highland recognises that our current waiting times for patients requiring joint replacement surgery are longer than we all would wish and we apologise to these patients.
“The waiting times are a result of a number of factors including a lack of capacity to meet demand, a temporary reduction in capacity during the theatre upgrade at Raigmore Hospital and the impact of emergency patient flow within the hospital.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “In 2019/20 the Scottish Government are making an additional £102 million available to health boards to improve their waiting times.
“These resources are part of the total of £850 million available to implement the Waiting Times Improvement Plan by spring 2021 which will see increased capacity and reduced waiting times.”
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