South Scotland Regional MSP Sharon Dowey said the SNP must “step up” on musculoskeletal waiting times for Ayrshire and Arran.
Her call comes after figures show just 39.2 per cent of patients were seen for a musculoskeletal appointment within the four-week target.
But the SNP target states that 95 per cent of patients should receive an appointment within four weeks of a referral.
The figures take in the financial quarter which ended on September 30, 2021 and have just been released by Public Health Scotland.
And Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP, Sharon Dowey, said: “Musculoskeletal appointments must be a priority for this SNP Government.
“Patients with diseases in their joints, bones, and ligaments can’t afford to wait to longer than four weeks for an appointment.
“Health Secretary Humza Yousaf must recognise this and step up to the plate.
“Some health boards, such as NHS Grampian are seeing 80 per cent of patients within four weeks, so why are just 40 per cent being seen in Ayrshire and Arran?
“The Health Secretary must provide support for all health boards in Scotland, and it’s high time that Humza stops neglecting NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Unless the SNP step in, more patients will continue waiting longer than four weeks for an appointment.
“Frontline staff in NHS Ayrshire and Arran have worked so hard over the past year and during the festive period. Will Humza Yousaf make 2022 the year that he finally steps up and supports our NHS staff and the health service?”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While more people are being seen within four weeks, performance still needs to improve further, and we continue to work closely with Boards to support the reduction of waiting times against the challenges of increased demand as Scotland continues to be in the midst of a global pandemic.
“In our Integrated Health and Social Care Workforce Plan – the first in the UK – we committed to creating 225 more Advanced Musculo-Skeletal (MSK) Practitioners in primary care. This will increase MSc training places for the physiotherapy workforce and support our ongoing work to improve access to timely care.
“We are working with NHS Boards to support the recovery of waiting times and have also committed to a review into Allied Health Professions education, including physiotherapists.
“The review will provide a clearer picture of the situation across Scotland and will consider whether our AHP education provision is congruent with the health needs of the people of Scotland.”
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