Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has slammed “horrendous” waiting time figures for patients in Tayside who suffer from chronic pain.
The politician was reacting to the latest data released by Public Health Scotland for the quarter ending March 31, which shows that NHS Tayside (along with NHS Grampian) had more patients who had to wait 25 weeks or more to receive an appointment.
The figures from Public Health Scotland reveal that 37 patients in Tayside had to wait between 31 to 33 weeks to be seen by medical staff; 28 had to wait between 34 to 36 weeks; 46 had to wait between 49 to 51 weeks, and 48 had to wait more than 52 weeks – the second highest figure in Scotland.
Chronic pain is classed as pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “I am deeply concerned at the figures for waiting times for patients in Tayside who have chronic pain which have been released by Public Health Scotland. Frankly, they are horrendous.
“To have patients suffering from chronic pain having to wait more than 33 weeks, more than 37 weeks, and even in some cases, more than 52 weeks to be seen is appalling and action must be taken by the SNP Government to look at this problem. These patients are suffering with pain, many will be in agony, so having to endure prolonged waits to be seen by medical staff at NHS Tayside is just not good enough.”
Mr Fraser continued: “We know NHS Scotland is under pressure due to various factors, but there is a common theme here of long waiting times for chronic pain and also at the likes of our A & E departments – this is all a shocking legacy left by the former Health Minister Humza Yousaf. Our health service is one that has definitely suffered under an SNP Government.
“Humza Yousaf’s flimsy NHS recovery plan has failed - patients will wonder if they are ever going to get an appointment. The SNP Government is distracted by internal chaos, and a push for another referendum rather than supporting suffering patients and giving NHS Tayside resources it needs.”
