A north-east MSP has written to health secretary Shona Robison, demanding answers over the “mounting problems” being faced by NHS Grampian.
Liam Kerr claimed the public had been left with the impression the NHS was “failing” due to a lack of support and planning from the Scottish Government.
He said: “The number of problems affecting the NHS in the north-east region is mounting, and the impression the public are being left with is that the health service is struggling to cope in this area, due to years of poor management from the SNP government.
“Families should not have to wait more than a month for an appointment at their local GP practice, while staff shortages have prompted health boards to take unprecedented action.
“We know that spending in real terms north of the border has not kept pace with increases in England, and that is something that needs to be urgently addressed.
“One of the issues we are still waiting for progress on in the Grampian area is the improvements to the neuro ward at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – it has been three years since this was first mooted and that is an unacceptable delay for patients and their families.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian responded: “Our director of workforce, Dr Annie Ingram, acknowledged our recruitment difficulties at a board meeting earlier this month.
“Much of this is due to the very high cost of living in the north-east.
“A proposal for key worker housing, in partnership with Grampian Housing Association, is due to go before councillors shortly.
“Dr Ingram also confirmed 186 nurses had been recruited in the last year, while consultant vacancies have been halved.
“With regard to the neuro ward, this is part of a rolling programme of improvement at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and is consistent with NHS Grampian’s commitment to delivering £300 million in new and upgraded facilities across our area over the next few years.”
Health secretary Shona Robison responded: “This Government is committed to protecting and improving healthcare services in Grampian.
“This year, we are providing NHS Grampian with record funding of £882.3 million – a 6.6% increase on the year before and the largest budget uplift of any mainland health board.”