Buckie-based MSP warns of continued Covid impact on NHS operations
The cost of the Covid pandemic to the NHS is still being counted, an MSP has claimed.
Buckie-based Tim Eagle, who is a Highlands and Islands MSP for the Conservatives, spoke out as new figures revealed how reduced the number of operations have been since March 2020 when the pandemic struck.
He went on to raise questions as to just how much pressure this is putting on primary GP services.
Mr Eagle said: “Across Scotland significantly fewer operations have taken place since the pandemic began, than during the equivalent 53 months before it.
“And we have not been immune in the north as the reduction has affected the health board areas across the Highlands and Islands, with the single exception of Orkney.
“If you look at the larger health board areas, the reduction in the number of operations in the NHS Highland area is 18,861 while it is as high as 53,047 for NHS Grampian which includes Moray. The numbers involved in the island health boards are, of course, much smaller but they remain significant with the figure for the Western Isles being 718.
“Delayed or cancelled operations can have a real human cost in distress and anxiety which is why dealing with the backlog must remain a key priority for the Scottish Government.
“I fully recognise the incredible work our NHS staff continue to do, all too often under huge resource and financial challenges. It must also be said that delayed operations puts huge pressures on primary care services like GPs who continue to manage patients before and after operations.
“I very much hope we see improvements in these figures before too much longer.”
The figures for all of Scotland’s Health Boards can be found at https://publichealthscotland.scot/
