Halcro Johnston asks further question on Grampian waiting times
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston will question the Cabinet Secretary for Health on action to reduce waiting times at NHS Grampian after new figures showed that the health board is by far the worst in Scotland for mental health treatment for children and young people.
Mr Halcro Johnston has previously highlighted problems at NHS Grampian, which covers Moray and has a working agreement with NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland to deliver a range of services. Health secretary Shona Robison previously admitted that waiting times in the board were “unacceptable” and suggested that measures would be undertaken to rectify problems.
The new NHS figures demonstrate that fewer than a third of young people were given treatment by mental health services though the health board within the 18 week target, far lower than the Scotland-wide average of 73 per cent.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“There are clearly endemic problems within NHS Grampian and the health secretary has promised action. With new figures showing further worsening performance against waiting times targets, it seems that the Scottish Government has been slow to act.
“I will be asking the health secretary to update the Scottish Parliament on the work that she indicated would be undertaken months ago to reduce waiting times in our region. While I welcome her commitments, it is clear that the SNP Government has taken its eye off the ball in allowing the problems in NHS Grampian to reach this stage.”