Today at First Minister’s Questions Rachael Hamilton quizzed Nicola Sturgeon on cancelled operations at NHS Borders.
It came after Rachael had been contacted by a number of constituents complaining about cancelled operations. Rachael referred to a case in her question where a patient has had her operation cancelled twice in a row causing distress and inconvenience.
Rachael Hamilton MSP asked the First Minister what action the SNP Government would take to help the situation in NHS Borders that has seen 152 operations cancelled this year for capacity or non-clinical reason by the hospital.
The MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire constituency called on the SNP Government to provide support to NHS Borders that has either seen the highest or second highest percentage of cancelled operations this year due to capacity or cancelled operations. This was continually higher than the national average. 10.9% of scheduled operations in NHS Borders were cancelled in March compared to a Scottish average of 4.1%.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
‘NHS Borders is suffering from SNP mismanagement. This year has seen 152 patients have their operation cancelled due to no fault of their own. I was glad to be able to raise the issues that have been facing my constituents, especially the case which has seen one patient have two operations cancelled in a row.
‘I asked the First Minister to help our local NHS and give it the support it needs to help reduce incidences of cancelled operations here in the Scottish Borders.
‘Unfortunately, she only said that she would continue to work with local health boards, but clearly this is not working!