The SNP has highlighted the increasing number of emergency healthcare staff numbers as a sign of Scotland’s NHS being in good hands at this critical time of year.
Over the festive period, the Scottish Ambulance Service deals with an extra 6,000 incidents – a 20 per cent surge in emergency calls during peak periods.
The answer to a parliamentary question lodged by Mike MacKenzie MSP has revealed the number of Accident and Emergency Consultants in emergency medicine under the SNP government has increased by 180.3 per cent - or 137 members of staff.
The response from Shona Robison, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, also showed that since the end of 2007 the number of ambulance services technicians is up 15.7 per cent and the number of paramedics is up 11.7 per cent.
Since August, the Scottish Government has invested £28.2 million across Scotland for winter preparations. This includes £10 million invested in the Winter Resilience Fund, £8.2 million from the Unscheduled Care Action Plan fund to improve the way emergency care operates, as well as £10 million to tackle delays in discharging people from hospital.
Commenting, SNP MSP Mike MacKenzie said:
“The huge 180 per cent increase in the number of specialist medicine consultants is excellent news and it highlights the commitment this SNP government has to making the NHS in Scotland better.
“Winter is one of the busiest times of the year when it comes to emergency care and it is essential that the NHS has the staffing levels it needs to provide the same high service people expect of it.
“Healthcare staff go to incredible lengths and deserve an enormous amount of gratitude for the work that they do.
“No matter what pressures they face, NHS staffs are always there when we need them most and I know people across Scotland are thankful for that fact.”
