NHS Scotland Outperforming English NHS on A&E Waiting Times

SCOTLAND THE ONLY NATION TO SEE IMPROVING PERFORMANCE
The SNP has today highlighted new figures showing that Scotland’s NHS is ‘streets ahead’ of the NHS south of the border on A&E waiting times – as Scottish Government investment in our health service continues to pay off.

Figures published today show that across core A&E sites 88.6 per cent of patients in England were admitted, transferred or discharged from A&E within four hours of arrival – compared to 94 per cent of patients in Scotland.

The figures also show that Scotland was the only UK nation to see an improvement in overall performance in October 2015 compared to October 2014 – 94.7 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in October 2015, compared to 91.8 per cent in October 2014.

Under the SNP, staff numbers in Scotland’s NHS have risen to record levels – with more than 10,600 new staff since 2006, while the NHS budget is now above £12 billion for the first time.

Commenting, SNP MSP Bob Doris said:

“These new figures show that on A&E waiting times Scotland’s NHS is streets ahead of the Tory-controlled health service in England and improving against its own performance last winter – we owe a debt of gratitude to the hard-working NHS staff who have delivered these encouraging results.

“While south of the border, the Tories press ahead with their privatisation agenda; the SNP is committed to ensuring that the NHS in Scotland remains firmly in public hands. That’s why the SNP government has increased the health service budget by £3 billion since coming to office and, if re-elected, will protect the NHS resource budget for each year of the next parliament.

“However, while real progress is being made in Scotland’s NHS, we are aware that there is more that needs to be done to continue to support patients and our hard-working NHS staff – and the SNP will never stop working to ensure that people in Scotland enjoy the first-rate health service they deserve.”

More Nurses and Lower Waiting Time Shows Importance of Scotland's NHS Choices

Figures showing that there are more nurses per head of population in Scotland’s NHS than in NHS England have underlined the importance of Scotland being able to make its own choices when it comes to health.

A Parliamentary Question has revealed that while there are 7.5 qualified nurses per 1,000 people in Scotland, the equivalent number for England is just 5.4 qualified nurses.

Meanwhile a separate Parliamentary Question has revealed that NHS Scotland has lower waiting times than NHS England or Wales for a range of common procedures.

The figures show that in 2012/13, patients in Scotland waited an average of 37 days for bypass surgery – compared to 56 days in England and 135 days in Wales.

For a hip replacement, NHS Scotland patients waited on average 67 days compared to 77 days in England and 170 days in Wales.

And for a knee replacement, NHS Scotland patients waited on average 68 days compared to 82 days in England and 177 in Wales.

Commenting, SNP MSP Bob Doris who is the Deputy Convener of the Health and Sport Committee said:

“These are encouraging figures which confirm that Scotland’s Health Service is in good hands.

“With more qualified nurses per head of population than in England, NHS Scotland is better placed to ensure that people receive the highest standard of care possible.

“Meanwhile NHS Scotland is outperforming its counterparts south of the border when it comes to waiting times for the kind of common procedures that most patients need.

“It is by having full responsibility for our own NHS that has allowed us to protect the NHS in Scotland from the deeply damaging privatisation agenda that is undermining services south of the border.

“It is one of the clearest demonstrations possible that where decisions are made in Scotland, they reflect the priorities of people living here.

“With a Yes vote in September, it will be people in Scotland that are ultimately responsible for every decision affecting Scotland – not a Westminster system that has long since shown itself to be at odds with Scotland’s needs.”

Labour Chaos Continues with Party at Odds Across the Country

PARTY SAYS ONE THING IN OPPOSITION AND ANOTHER IN OFFICE

The SNP is calling on Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont to reaffirm her party’s stance on free school meals and workers’ rights after a week that saw Labour councillors at odds with MSPs and MPs from their own party.

On Thursday, Labour councillors in Glasgow rejected fully-funded plans put forward by the council’s SNP group proposing to introduce free school meals early. This is despite the fact that just one day before, Labour in the Scottish Parliament voted for the Scottish Government’s introduction of free school meals for all P1 to P3 children.

Labour councillors also rejected an SNP motion calling on the council to stop using Tory workforce laws that make it easier to sack staff. Glasgow Council - which is Labour controlled - has been among the first to use the new 45 day redundancy notices as a way of forcing workers to accept changes to their pay and conditions. This is despite the fact the party voted against the new laws in the House of Commons.

Commenting, SNP MSP Bob Doris, who urged Labour to support the SNP on free school meals during Wednesday’s debate in the Scottish Parliament, said:

“Johann Lamont must make clear where her party stands on free school meals and workers’ rights. In a week in which Labour voted for free school meals in the Scottish Parliament, Labour councillors in Glasgow chose not to back the SNP proposal to introduce the policy early. Our SNP councillors had done the hard work of finding the funding - all Labour had to do was support the motion and they failed to do that, denying families across Glasgow vital support at a time when Tory cuts are hitting the poorest hardest.

“And while people in Glasgow are used to the Tory-led government attacking workers’ rights, they will be absolutely appalled that their Labour council has rushed to jump on the bandwagon, despite the fact the party voted against the laws in the House of Commons. That Glasgow council is among the first to use these controversial 45 day redundancy notices speaks volumes about the state the party is in. Any illusions there were about Labour being the party of the workers have been blown out of the water.

“Labour is a party in chaos. With MPs threatening to boycott conference and the party split down the middle on further powers, the party is now saying one thing in opposition and another thing in office. Their leader must take charge."

Number of Dentists Increases by a Third Under SNP

CALL FOR PARENTS TO GET KIDS’ TEETH CHECKED IN THE NEW YEAR

As children across the country tuck into their festive treats, the SNP has revealed figures showing that the number of dentists in Scotland has increased by almost 33 per cent since the SNP took office. Between September 2006 and September this year, Scotland has benefitted from 793 extra dentists - an increase of 32.6%.

These extra dentists have helped to vastly increase the levels of registration with an NHS dentist. In March 2007 before the SNP took office, just 67% of children and 46% of adults were registered with an NHS dentist. The most recent figures show that as of 30th September 2013, 91% of children and 82% of adults were registered. Over 4.4 million people are now registered – an increase of 1.8 million since March 2007.

Commenting SNP MSP Bob Doris, who is also deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport committee, said:

"These figures are really something to smile about. In particular it is vitally important that children learn good oral health early as they are much more likely to continue these habits later in life.

"The New Year is the perfect time to register at a dentist and get your teeth checked.

"These figures show that, after years of neglect under previous administrations, that real inroads have been made in ensuring the provision of first-rate dental services for the people of Scotland."

Scotland Rules Out Following "Backward" UK Government Plan to Limit GP Visits

TALE OF TWO GOVERNMENTS: HEALTH RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY WESTMINSTER SYSTEM
The UK government’s plan to cap the number of times patients can visit their local doctor has been condemned by the SNP.

A Tory consultation document on health provision is considering an annual limit on GP appointments in England. The paper also asks whether evening and weekend appointments with GPs and consultants are a "luxury the country cannot afford".

But a written answer from Scottish Government Health Secretary Alex Neil to SNP MSP Bob Doris confirmed that The Scottish Government will not restrict patient access to GPs and that it considers “..any moves to restrict the number of visits a patient can make to their GP would be of potentially serious detriment to their health.”

Dr Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:

“This was obviously written by someone who has never been unwell, or has never met people who work in the health service."

Mr Doris said:

“This backward plan by the Tories is yet another blow to the already damaged NHS south of the border.

“People need to be able to see their GP - If they are regularly unwell they need to see their local doctor as often as is necessary.

“Successive UK governments have asset stripped and dismantled NHS England.

“Labour have abandoned the principle of universality and the NHS is sadly not exempt from that, as their leader Ed Miliband has already admitted.

“While health policy in Scotland is already effectively independent, and the SNP Government’s commitment to a public healthcare system is unwavering, Scotland is still at the mercy of Westminster's retreat from a public NHS via the Barnett formula funding system.

“It is clear that the way to protect and build on universal services in Scotland is with a Yes vote in September 2014.”

NHS Staffing on the Increase in Scotland

SNP PROTECT AND ENHANCE FRONTLINE NHS STAFF LEVELS
Figures published today (Tuesday) show an overall increase in the past year in the number of staff employed by the NHS is Scotland.

The increase in the past 12 months represents a 0.4 per cent rise and a leap of nearly 4% since 2006, when Labour were in power.

The increase is in spite of the greatest change being the number of administrative posts, which have reduced by 2.2% in the past year.

Longer term comparisons from September 2006 to September 2012 show there has been an overall 1.0% increase in qualified nurses and midwives in the NHS in Scotland.

Bob Doris MSP, Deputy Convener of the Health and Sport Committee, said:

"These figures are to be welcomed and fly in the face of the scaremongering on nursing levels in Scotland peddled out by Jackie Baillie and Johann Lamont.

"The unwavering commitment to protect vital frontline services is a cornerstone of the SNP Government – a fact backed up by the rise in the number of qualified nurses and midwives, consultants, psychologists and counsellors.

"Ultimately, the only way for all of Scotland’s NHS to be protected in the long-term is for all of the economic and social policy decisions to be made here in Scotland, and for Scotland to be in charge of our own resources with an independent Parliament.

"That is why Scotland needs the powers of a normal, independent country - so that we can be equally well-governed in all areas, including health, instead of being on the receiving end of damaging decisions taken at Westminster. This can only be achieved by a Yes vote in the referendum in 2014."

The stats are published by ISD Scotland: http://www.isdscotland.org/