Cole-Hamilton: SNP's mishandling of health costing the economy

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has put health at the centre of his party’s plans to grow the economy during a visit to an Edinburgh hairdresser today.  

As he popped into Campbell Young Hair Design in West Edinburgh for a campaign haircut, Mr Cole-Hamilton emphasised how the equivalent of 1 in 7 Scots being stuck on a waiting list is having an impact on the economy.

Hundreds of thousands of people are locked out of work by physical and mental ill health.

The SNP have abandoned long Covid sufferers despite one recent study showing the condition may have reduced Scotland's GDP by £120m and cost 11,000 jobs.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“We've just lived through a global pandemic, so the link between good health and a growing and prosperous economy should be obvious to us all.

"If people can't get help fast then they can't get back to work and get on in life.

"It's why we need to bring down waits, retain NHS staff and tackle burnout, and establish specialist clinics and in-home support for long Covid sufferers.

"This is the sort of investment that pays for itself because we all benefit from their talents. But the SNP and Conservative governments have driven health and economic policy straight into a brick wall. They are both out of road and out of ideas.

"Electing a Scottish Liberal Democrat MP means having someone who will always fight for good local health services and who will work their heart out to get you seen fast."