Operations activity still lower than pre-pandemic levels
Responding to Public Health Scotland figures published today which show that the number of planned operations was lower than pre-pandemic levels, with 7.2% fewer operations planned in August 2023 than were planned in August 2019, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:
“Michael Matheson cannot deny any longer that his predecessor’s plan has failed. He must tear up the NHS Recovery Plan and start again. It is what patients and staff deserve.
“If he does not, the NHS will face another tough winter which will push it to breaking point.
“A new plan must prioritise the recruitment and retention of staff through a burnout prevention strategy and a staff and social care assembly."