Halcro Johnston criticises health secretary over 16 month wait for heart surgery
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has challenged the Scottish Government over excessive delays in NHS Grampian.
The Scottish Conservative MSP questioned health secretary Shona Robison in the Scottish Parliament about the case of a constituent who was forced to wait 16 months for heart surgery with the health board.
In addition to covering its own region, which includes Moray, NHS Grampian also provides a range of cardiac services by arrangement to NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland.
Halcro Johnston pointed out that more than 2000 people every month were suffering excessive waiting times for treatment with NHS Grampian and called on the Cabinet Secretary to give assurances that she was still working to improve NHS Grampian’s performance against key waiting time targets.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“There are deep-seated problems at NHS Grampian and they show little chance of let-up any time soon.
“Like many, my constituent faced excessive delays with the health board, that put unnecessary strain on his private life. I am pleased he is now, after 16 months, getting the treatment he needs – but there are many more in similar situations.
“The SNP health secretary needs to set out far more comprehensive plans to bring the board back from the brink. This will have to involve clear timescales to return to acceptable levels of performance, in order to reassure people that they can once again have confidence in their health board.”