Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur says the SNP Government is taking action to drive down waiting times and strengthen the NHS across Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and the rest of Scotland.
New figures show waiting times are falling, GP numbers are increasing, and record numbers of appointments and procedures are being carried out — in contrast to rising waiting lists in England.
Tom Arthur, who serves as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, said Scotland’s NHS is getting back on track under the leadership of First Minister John Swinney.
He said: “The NHS is an institution we all cherish, but we know that too many people are waiting too long for treatment – and the SNP Government has been taking action to address this.
“The latest figures show NHS waiting times are coming down in Scotland, with the number of outpatients waiting more than a year falling for four months in a row, down by 7.3% compared to last year, while they’re rising in Labour-run England.
“The number of appointments and procedures are up – we’ve seen a record number of hip and knee replacement operations over the last year.
“Scotland already has the largest number of GPs per head in the UK, and GP numbers are going up. Last week the SNP Government announced funding of over £500 million to recruit even more GPs, making it easier to get appointments.
“And that increase in GP numbers is working for patients – with new data showing a 2.4 million rise in patient-GP surgery contact this year compared to last.”
He added: “We’ve also announced an additional £25.5 million for the NHS to deliver more appointments and procedures and reduce waiting times even further.
“We committed to bringing waiting lists down, and that’s exactly what is happening.
“Under John Swinney’s leadership, Scotland’s NHS is on the road to recovery – but there’s always more we can do, which is why we will open a network of walk-in GP centres across Scotland making it easier for people to be seen at a time that suits them.”