On cancelled planned operations, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “It’s utterly disgraceful that, on the SNP’s watch, over 2,000 operations were cancelled at the eleventh hour in June.
“Last-minute cancellations are soul-destroying for patients, who are suffering physically, as well as mentally, because they can’t get the operation they so desperately need.
“This is the brutal legacy of Humza Yousaf’s flimsy Covid recovery plan. Nationalist ministers have totally failed to remobilise the NHS following the pandemic.
“Neil Gray needs to stop burying his head in the sand and adopt our common-sense plans to slash bureaucracy and boost capacity in our NHS.”
On delayed discharge, Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “These figures are appalling. The SNP promised to eradicate delayed discharge a decade ago but continue to be miles away from doing so.
“Almost 2,000 patients are still taking up space in hospital each month on the SNP’s watch, simply because there’s no social care package available for them.
“These delays have a catastrophic knock-on effect across our NHS, with A&E waiting times skyrocketing and patients unable to undergo crucial operations.
“The SNP’s only solution to this crisis is a botched National Care Service which is still costing the taxpayer over £1million per month, even though it was ditched.
“Neil Gray needs to stop making excuses and ensure that every penny of available resource is sent to local social care providers, so patients can be discharged and desperately needed beds can be freed up.”
