Nicola Sturgeon has been challenged to tackle the “real-life impact” of the staffing crisis at NHS Grampian.
Insiders at the health board have claimed hundreds of operations have been cancelled in recent months, because of a lack of nurses.
And Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions yesterday, saying the staffing crisis was having a “real-life impact” on patients in the north east.
The Edinburgh MSP cited the case of a man from Inverurie, whom she claimed was told would “not get the operation he needs”.
Ms Sturgeon insisted that the number of staff in the NHS had increased under the SNP.
But Ms Davidson said: “Let us focus on the real-life impact of what has happened.
“We were contacted this week by a gentleman called Hugh Falconer from Inverurie, who was put on an urgent referral for treatment last year and was told that he would receive surgery within 12 weeks.
“However, he has now been informed that Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is no longer able to book his operation and has also stopped referring patients to the Golden Jubilee in Clydebank.
“He has been told that he will not get the operation that he needs.
“That is on the back of reports this week that, in NHS Grampian, there are operating theatres lying empty, because hospitals do not have the staff.”
The Tory leader urged Ms Sturgeon to focus on running public services rather than “obsessing about another (independence) referendum”.
But the first minister said: “Under this government, staffing in total has increased by more than 11,500 whole-time equivalents.
“That takes staffing in our health service now to a record level.
“NHS Grampian, for example, is working to increase its theatre staff and its surgical team has just employed seven newly-qualified practitioners. That is a sign of our commitment to staffing in our national health service.
“However, we are committed to going further.
“Unlike other parties in the chamber – and certainly the Conservative party – we are committed to further additional investment in our national health service.
“I will say it again – there will be £500 million pounds over and above inflation over the life of this Parliament.”
NHS Grampian has insisted it offers a high-standard of patient care and that its staff were “committed and dedicated” to their work.