Across Scotland, our NHS is on life support. Almost regardless of what part of the service you need, things are going wrong.
The harsh reality is the SNP has been in charge of our NHS for 15 years and there is a crisis in every part of it. From our GP practices, to A&Es and our hospitals, the story is the same, staff are crying out for help and patients are suffering.
Let’s be clear, the increase in funding announced for our NHS by the Scottish Government is not only welcome – it is essential if we want the service to carry on being recognisable.
But the roots of the crisis we are dealing with don’t have their origins just in a lack of funds, they’ve followed more than a decade of weak leadership and flawed decisions from SNP ministers.
Nothing illustrates this point better than the catch-up plan that has seen us fall further behind. In August 2021, the SNP published its NHS recovery plan – more than a year later and things have only got worse.
When the plan was revealed, 1463 people were waiting more than 12 hours in A&E. After more than a year of so-called recovery, this figure has soared to 5296 – an increase of 262 per cent.
The SNP hasn’t met its cancer treatment pledge once since 2012. The truth is that in our NHS, staff are being failed, patients are being failed and the SNP will blame anyone except themselves. So that is why just announcing new money in our NHS isn’t enough.
If taxes are to rise – and the majority of Scots will be paying more tax under these new SNP plans – then it has to be accompanied with a real plan to save our NHS.
It is not enough for ministers to announce extra cash but leave the delivery down to warm words. We deserve deliverable and recordable plans that ministers must be judged against.
It isn’t unreasonable for NHS workers or the public to ask what difference this money will make to waiting times, to staff pay or patient outcomes.
Last week, Scottish Labour published an updated NHS recovery plan with measures that could be implemented now to start the recovery our NHS needs:
• Expanding the workforce by improving conditions, establishing fair pay, and retaining staff by treating them with dignity.
• Reducing wait times in A&E by increasing surge capacity and reducing delayed discharge.
• Reinstating the budget for primary care, supporting unpaid carers, and increasing GP numbers
• Making mental health a priority by reforming the referral system and reducing wait times.
• Tackle record waiting lists with National Treatment Centres.
The Scottish Government won’t admit there is no silver bullet that will make up for years of mismangement and poor decision making. But if Scots are being asked to dig deep to protect the NHS we all love, the SNP must deliver a vision for our health service beyond managed decline.
I like a Netflix season of goodwill
Christmas is fast approaching and across the country, many of us are already looking forward to time with our friends and families.
This is a time to come together to celebrate, relax, and rest. It is a chance to be grateful for what we have and to think of those less fortunate.
But it is also important to take a break. Christmas, for me, is about spending time with the kids, eating lots of junk food and catching up on some television – good and bad.
The political bun fights of Holyrood feel a million miles away when you’re binge watching Cobra Kai on Netflix, left. (Seriously, give it a chance). But we should all take a moment to thank those who’ll be working through the holidays.
Whether it’s the tireless work of the medical and emergency service staff working to keep us all safe, the hospitality workers in pubs and restaurants, or the volunteers who spend their Christmas supporting those in need. I know it has been another challenging year and, for too many Scots, the cost-of-living crisis will be adding to their worries. My promise to you is that next year – and every year – my party and I will work to make sure you get the support you need.
So from my family to yours and from all of us at Scottish Labour, we hope you have a happy and peaceful Christmas.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
