Call for action to stop Lothian patients missing out on vital operations

The figures showed the number of scheduled ops in Lothian had fallen from 5,195 in November 2019 to 3,244 in November 2020 – a drop of 37.6 per cent.

And a total of 286 of those planned for November 2020 were eventually cancelled 32 due to hospital capacity or non-clinical reasons.

Ms Boyack said with the pandemic placing great strain on the NHS, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman had to take action to prevent patients in Lothian missing out on vital treatment.

She said: “We simply cannot have the people of Lothian missing out on vital medical treatment due to the failings of the SNP.

“Scotland is still deep in the midst of the pandemic, but we cannot allow the SNP to use this as an excuse for failing to properly support the NHS in its time of need.

“SNP ministers have not acted quickly enough to rollout testing and maintain Covid safe wards, and this has undermined NHS capacity and recovery planning.

“It’s time for Jeane Freeman and the SNP to act to prevent the people of Lothian missing out on health care.

“Scottish Labour is calling on the SNP to do all within its power to support our NHS and to ensure that health boards have the staffing and resources that they need: this is not just what the people of Lothian deserve, it’s what they should be entitled to.”

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