Ayrshire MSP Sharon Dowey has hit out at the SNP after it is revealed over one-third of patients in NHS Ayrshire and Arran are waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment following a referral by their GP.
The national standard states that 90% of patients should be treated within 18 weeks of referral. NHS Ayrshire and Arran significantly missed this target in March 2022, where just 64.4% of patients were seen within this timescale.
Sharon Dowey has said that Humza Yousaf must do more to support NHS Ayrshire and Arran, as the recent statistics revealed it was the worst-performing health board in Scotland in relation to referral to treatment waiting times.
Commenting, Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Sharon Dowey said:
“After a patient is referred for treatment, the nervous wait begins as they hope that their health condition doesn’t get any worse before they’re seen.
“This nerve-wracking wait is prolonged in Scotland as the SNP’s mismanagement of the health service means over one-third of patients are waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment following a referral.
“This is the fewest number of patients being seen within the timescale this year, showing us that the situation in NHS Ayrshire and Arran is only getting worse. If this trend continues, Ayrshire patients’ health will only continue to suffer as they wait longer and longer to be treated.
“How much worse must this situation become before Humza Yousaf steps up and supports the health service? While NHS staff work tirelessly to deliver quality treatment for patients, there’s only so much they can do without adequate staff and funding. Until then, staff will continue to be under extreme pressure to deliver for patients.”