Shock new figures have revealed rape survivors are waiting up to 16 months to access vital services.
Figures published on the last day of the parliamentary term shows waiting lists have risen in seven of sixteen areas.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon hit out: “People who have taken the courageous step of contacting their local Rape Crisis centre need immediate support.
“It’s a scandal that rape survivors in Scotland are having to wait as long as 16 months for support. This shocking postcode lottery needs the First Minister’s full attention.
“With referrals to services increasing during the pandemic, the Scottish Government must urgently do more to ensure services are fairly and sustainably funded.”
The stats contrast the waits currently endured by survivors at each rape crisis centre with the previous year.
In Grampian, the waiting list was 3-5 months last year, but rose to 6.5 months in 2021.
In Ayrshire there was “no wait” in 2020 - but this year there is a six month waiting list.
The figure in Fife is currently nine months - up from between six and eight last year.
Survivors in Orkney can expect a three month waiting list, unlike last year when there was no delay.
The longest wait is 16 months in the Highlands, up from nine months in 2020. Shetland and Western Isles have also recorded rises.
SNP Cabinet Secretary Shona Robison said: “We know that having to wait for support has a real life impact on rape survivors, who deserve to be able to access the support they need. It is deeply concerning that referrals to services have increased during the pandemic.
“That is why within the first 100 days of this government, we directed new funding of £5m to Rape Crisis centres and domestic abuse services to help cut waiting lists and in 2020 we invested an additional £5.75m to various organisations including Rape Crisis Scotland to allow the rapid redesign of services and meet increased demand.”
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