Finnie says lessons must be learned amid surge in cases of flu and A&E waiting times rise
Scottish Green MSP John Finnie today (9 Jan) said lessons must be learned amid a surge in cases of flu and as Accident & Emergency departments record their worst performance against a key waiting target since weekly reporting began.
Figures for the week ending December 31 show that 78 per cent of patients were seen within four hours, well below the Scottish Government's 95 per cent target and the 92.5 per cent recorded a year ago.
John Finnie MSP said:
"The surge in flu cases, along with falls and slips as a result of the icy weather, adds pressure on our hospitals. Staff are working incredibly hard and should be commended for their high-quality care.
"While the Scottish Government has provided additional funds for winter contingencies, lessons must be learned from the current experience. Too often we see Scottish Ministers trying to distract from the situation by pointing to the dismantling of the NHS by the Tories in England, when we should remain focused on meeting our own aspirations for Scotland's health and social care services.
"It's clear we need greater investment in local services to prevent slips and falls in icy weather, we need properly-paid staff to cope with emergency hospital admissions and we need care packages at home to free up space in our hospitals. Greens have already won the case to end the pay freeze for public service staff, and we will continue to press for a fairer system of taxation that raises extra funds for the public services we all rely on."