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MORAY’S MP HAS demanded that the Scottish Government ‘get its act together’ and provide NHS Grampian funding levels that will allow it to care for patients.

Douglas Ros has said that one constituent was referred by his GP to see a consultant at the dermatology out-patients clinic at Dr Gray’s – only to then be told that he would need to wait 42 weeks for an appointment.

The MP said: “I wrote on his behalf to NHS Grampian and Scottish Health Minister Shona Robison. Ms Robison’s reply states that ‘for anyone to have to have a wait of up to 42 weeks for a dermatology appointment is totally unacceptable in a person-centred NHS’, which is stating the obvious.

“The minister added that the standard set by the Scottish Government is for patients to get an outpatient consultation, a diagnostic test if it’s required, and their treatment all within 18 weeks.”
Mr Ross continued: “Clearly NHS Grampian is a long way off that target time. Ms Robison admits she’s aware that some aspects of waiting time performance within NHS Grampian are below the level expected. As the minister in charge, she needs to do something to resolve this.

“It’s not just dermatology appointments where the people of Moray are being let down. I have another constituent, for example, who is waiting for a cardiology appointment and has been told that he will have to wait the best part of a year for this.

“I accept that the Scottish Government has increased the budget for NHS Grampian this year, but there clearly is so much more needed when people have ridiculously long waits to see consultants.”