No child should have to suffer pain because they can’t get an operation in 21st century Scotland.
The fact that nine-year-old Harvey Martin has had to resort to begging the First Minister for help to end his suffering is a shocking indictment of the state of the NHS.
In her remaining days in office if there is one thing Nicola Sturgeon should do it’s make sure little Harvey gets the surgery he so desperately needs.
The youngster is in Primary Five and should be running around with his pals and enjoying playing in the school
football team.
Instead he is in agony in a wheelchair anxiously awaiting surgery to mend the curve in his spine to stop his internal organs from being crushed.
Meanwhile, his parents become more worried every day watching him suffer agonising pain – all the while not knowing if the deterioration will be leave him permanently disabled.
It is no way for any family to live.
We know the First Minister will be moved by Harvey’s plight and the Scottish Government has already said sorry for the delay in his treatment but all the apologies in the world won’t help this lad.
He needs an operation to ease his pain and repair his damaged spine – not next week or next month but right now.
If his operation does not go ahead before Sturgeon leaves office next week, the new first minister must make Harvey’s surgery a priority.
If they are unable to arrange an operation for a suffering child on their watch they are unlikely to be the person to sort out the chaos which currently surrounds Scotland’s NHS.
And that will be a disaster for us all.
SFA hits own goal
The new strip launched to commemorate 150 years of Scottish football certainly looks smart – and will be in high demand.
What a pity then that such a desirable piece of merchandise should be priced at a level that will make most fans wince.
Who on earth decided in a cost-of- living crisis that £90 for a football top is acceptable?
The rip-off cost of the new Adidas shirt will have priced most supporters out of the market.
No wonder fans’ representatives are so angry at the cost of the tops.
They have rightly called for a rethink – or for some of the profits to be channelled to fans struggling in the financial climate.
The SFA could have insisted on a more affordable price tag but is clearly not thinking about the Tartan Army.
Pitching the price tag so high for the new Scotland strip is an own goal by the governing body.
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