Borders MSP Rachael Hamilton has questioned the logic behind requiring NHS Borders staff to be re-deployed in January for Covid-19 related duties.
Mrs Hamilton has heaped praise on NHS Borders staff for their response to what has been an incredibly challenging 2 years.
However, the Scottish Government, in response to their concerns about the Omicron variant of Covid, has required parts of NHS Borders to postpone or reschedule routine services as staff were re-deployed.
NHS Borders has also had to deal with a large increase in urgent cases and staff absences due to self-isolation rules, which has undoubtedly increased pressure on the health board.
In response to an FOI request, NHS Borders said that January was the first time the Borders General Hospital (BGH) had been required to re-deployed staff. 29 members of staff at the BGH have been re-deployed since then.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
“It is really important that health care services in the Borders are able to continue to function despite the pandemic.
“The Scottish Government have not allowed this to happen, and their overly cautious approach to the pandemic has seen hospitals like the BGH fall behind on delivering these key services.
“We are now facing a new problem as a result of the SNP’s unwillingness to admit they got it wrong about Covid this winter. Covid is far from the only healthcare issue in the Borders. Yet, the Scottish Government continue to insist that skilled healthcare professionals are placed in administrative roles to deal with a pandemic that is already in retreat.
“The NHS here in the Borders must be allowed to get on with their jobs. The success of the UK’s vaccine rollout, coupled with the common sense approach to safety that people are very willing to adopt, should mean that the Scottish Government can allow the NHS to return to normal.
“I know that staff have gone above and beyond throughout the pandemic. Now is the time to let them get back to the day job and prioritise the issues that have been left behind during the pandemic.”
