The number of cancelled operations across NHS Ayrshire & Arran has almost tripled, new figures show.
Public Health Scotland statistics show that, in April 2022, there were 13 operations cancelled due to issues with capacity and other "non-clinical reasons".
By June, the figure had increased to 32 operations.
Scottish Conservative MSP for South Scotland, Sharon Dowey, said: “Despite numerous announcements from the SNP on their mission to tackle NHS capacity, the figures show that the situation is only getting worse. I’m calling on Humza Yousaf [health secretary] to get a grip on this problem.
“It’s nerve-racking waiting on an operation and to be told that it can’t go ahead will be devastating news for those suffering a lot of pain. That’s why Humza Yousaf must make sure that NHS Ayrshire & Arran have adequate resources to deal with their patients.”
Katy Clark, Scottish Labour MSP for West Scotland, said: "Waiting for an important operation can be a daunting experience at the best of times but unforeseen cancellations are very distressing for patients.
“Whilst it is certainly true the pandemic has exacerbated existing issues in the NHS, the truth is the strain on our NHS has been building year on year, including here in Ayrshire.
“The Scottish Government did receive extra funding from Westminster to deal with the pandemic, but not all that money has been used to deal with the consequences of the pandemic and there has been insufficient resource and energy devoted to tackling the significant problems, including staffing shortages, we know we now have in the NHS. Ministers need to urgently get on top of this.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “These statistics refer to the peak of the latest Covid wave. Despite high rates of Covid-19 and seasonal pressures including increased staff absence, more than 90 per cent of operations were performed as planned – an average of 636 a day.
“The most common reason for cancellations of operations was for clinical reasons.
“We are working with NHS boards to get those who have had treatments or procedures postponed due to Covid-19 the care they need as quickly as possible.”
SNP MSP for Cumnock, Carrick and Doon Valley, Elena Whitham added: “The Scottish Government committed £18 billion of funding in this financial year to the health and social care sector and has just recently completed the £1.8m purchase of the Carrick Glen clinic to be used as a national treatment centre, one of a network of 10 centres across the country that will create 40,000 additional surgeries and procedures each year.
“Meanwhile, it has come to light that the next likely UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, personally supported cuts to the NHS, arguing the service “cannot be put on a pedestal” in a thinktank report in which she also criticised the “inexorable” rise in doctors’ pay.
"And her fellow contender in the circus that is the Tory leadership contest has called for more charges to be brought in for patients, something which the SNP will never back.”
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