Grant accuses Scottish Government of 'falling woefully short' in key services for neurological patients
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A NORTH MSP has accused the Scottish Government of "falling woefully short"in providing key services for neurological patients.
Rhoda Grant, a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands, hit out at what she described as the SNP's "dismal record in tackling waiting times, delays to treatment and care, as well as the lack of support to patients."
Mrs Grant called for better support for people with neurological conditions and claimed the Scottish Government is
"missing key opportunities to invest in our NHS" and is instead cutting £400 million from the health and social care budget.
She pointed out that a report from the Neurological Alliance of Scotland highlighted the extend of the problems.
Speaking in Holyrood this week, Mrs Grant said: "Only 25 per cent of adult respondents from this survey saw a neurologist within 12 weeks. This and the diagnosis times demonstrate that this government is falling woefully short of their own standards."
Mrs Grant referred to the decision by the NHS Western Isles board to merge specialist neurological nursing roles. "This change was made without consultation with patients, and there is a real risk that it could be copied throughout Scotland, placing the standards of care and accessibility to treatment at even greater risk.
"This decision is one that does not save money but rather increases the cost and burden to the NHS. In a cost-of-living crisis surely we should be supporting more localised delivery of specialist services."
Mrs Grant is backing a petition which calls for focused ultrasound treatment to be rolled out on the NHS for essential tremor patients. "This treatment is already available on the NHS in England and we send patients south of the border for treatment when we have the capability to offer it in Scotland.
"The Scottish Government refuse to support the roll out of this less invasive, and considerably less expensive, procedure on the NHS which is available in Dundee."
She added: "This government is missing key opportunities to invest in our NHS which will result in savings and deliver the care the people of Scotland need. Instead, they are choosing to cut £400 million from key health and social care budgets."
