Scottish Labour says its priority for the next parliament will be to 'restore the NHS' after the Covid pandemic with leader Anas Sarwar saying it will be central to the party's National Recovery Plan
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SCOTTISH Labour’s leader has called for restoring the NHS in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic to be the priority for the next parliament.
Anas Sarwar unveiled his party’s plan for boosting the health service this week.
Highlighting 7000 missed cancer diagnoses as a result of Covid proposals include getting cancer treatment back on track by increasing staff and processing capacity to clear the backlog of appointments within a year.
The plan also suggests mental health care could be improved with better support, an end to rejected referrals and moves to boost mental health in the workplace.
And there are also proposals to increase social carers’ pay to £15 an hour ultimately, after an immediate rise to £12 per hour.
Mr Sarwar said: “Covid has reminded us of the value of our NHS, but the past year has not come without a cost.
“Waiting times have soared, there are missing cancer patients, a growing mental health crisis, and an exhausted workforce.
“Restoring the NHS and Scotland’s health will be key to Scotland’s recovery, and we can’t go back to the old way of doing things.
“This plan offers solutions to ensure we can restore our NHS and that is what this election is about – solutions for the future; not the arguments of the past.
“Better public services; not settling old scores.
“A national recovery plan to unite our country; not an obsession with what divides us.
“After the last few days, it’s clear that only Scottish Labour is focused on what unites us , so that together we can build a stronger recovery for a fairer Scotland.”
Scottish Labour’s election campaign is focussing on a National Recovery Plan with five themes on jobs, the NHS, education, climate and communities.
