SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray apologises to Lanarkshire patients for NHS waiting times
EXCLUSIVE: NHS Lanarkshire is struggling to meet demand with almost 7,000 residents waiting more than a year for treatment.
Scotland's Health Secretary has apologised to Lanarkshire patients over waiting times at one of the country's biggest NHS boards.
Neil Gray, the MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, said sorry after new figures showed waiting lists in Lanarkshire are rising significantly, with nearly 7,000 people now waiting more than a year for treatment.
More than 400 patients also waited more than 12 hours in the region's A&E departments, according to the latest figures.
Gray apologised in a letter to Imogen Walker, the Labour MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley, who raised urgent concerns around long NHS waiting times locally.
In her correspondence with Gray, she wrote: "Constituents are contacting me about waiting times for NHS appointments in Hamilton and Clyde Valley.
"Many have waited for months in pain, with no certainty about when they will receive the treatment they desperately need.
"One of my constituents is currently waiting for cataract surgery: they have been on the waiting list for 34 weeks, the delay has increased from 64 weeks to 80 weeks, and they have now been advised to consult an optician.
"Another constituent who is currently waiting for a double hip replacement had their pre-op carried out in January 2024. They have not yet received their surgery at the time of this letter. The pain has become unmanageable, but when my team raised an enquiry with NHS Lanarkshire, we were told that we should expect a further 4-6 months wait."
Walker blasted: "NHS Lanarkshire saw 3,088 unfilled doctor shifts in 2024, plus 42,862 unfilled nurse and midwife shifts. This is a total of 45,950 unfilled nurse, doctor, or midwife shifts. Hard working NHS staff are being driven to burnout, whilst Scots are stuck on waiting lists for appointments.
"In contrast, NHS England waiting list figures have been falling: the Labour government has invested an additional £26 billion in health and social care, and the Spending Review brought record levels of investment to the NHS, enabling us to cut waiting lists, improve patient care and modernise services."
In his response to the Labour MP, Gray said: "I am deeply sorry to hear of the pain and distress your constituents are experiencing due to their conditions and that they have been waiting such a long time for treatment.
"Please be assured that all at the Scottish Government fully understand the anxiety and frustration they will be feeling at this time, and that I genuinely sympathise and appreciate the concerns of every patient across Scotland experiencing delays.
"Excessively long waiting lists are not acceptable and I apologise to all patients waiting too long."
Gray added: "The long term impact of the pandemic, seasonal and staffing pressures and unprecedented levels of inflation across the public sector has seen the NHS under the most severe pressure in its 77-year existence.
"This has inevitably disrupted the NHS’s ability to carry out routine procedures, meaning longer waits for many patients."
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