Scottish Labour Party Business: Taking Action on NHS Waiting Times

Jackie Baillie S6M-09462 That the Parliament is deeply concerned that NHS waiting lists continue to increase to record levels, with over 779,000 patients awaiting treatment; regrets that over 18,300 patients died on NHS waiting lists in 2022, whilst the number of people in Scotland paying for private treatment has increased by 73% since before the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that the Scottish Government has failed to meet its revised national targets for tackling long waits for planned care; is concerned about the delay in rolling out the network of National Treatment Centres; recognises that the NHS is facing a workforce crisis, with over 7,000 vacancies unfilled, and agency costs spiralling to £567 million in 2022-23, and calls on the Scottish Ministers to bring forward a revised NHS Recovery Plan, in consultation with key stakeholders, to reduce long waits as a matter of urgency. Michael Matheson S6M-09462.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-09462 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Taking Action on NHS Waiting Times), leave out from "is deeply" to end and insert "recognises the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both the people of Scotland directly, and on the operation of the health service; further recognises that too many people are waiting too long for treatment, and welcomes the reductions in the longest waits recently; notes that health services across the four nations are dealing with the effects of the pandemic on waiting times, and recognises that use of the independent sector by individuals is proportionately lower than that in England or Wales; supports the twin approach of investment and reform of the NHS so that delivery continues to be enhanced, backed by investment founded in progressive taxation; appreciates that the workforce is at the heart of all that the NHS does, and thanks everyone working in the NHS for their dedication, expertise and commitment; believes that the NHS must be kept true to its founding principles of being publicly owned, publicly operated, and free at the point of need, and further believes that the only way to protect the NHS from the threat posed by the UK Government is to realise independence for Scotland." Sandesh Gulhane S6M-09462.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-09462 in the name of Jackie Baillie (Taking Action on NHS Waiting Times), after "2022-23" insert "; notes with concern that long waits are an issue throughout all aspects of the health service, with cancer waiting times at their worst ever level, A&E targets not being met in three years, and the Scottish Government failing to clear the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) backlog".