Investment in NHS staff to meet demand is key
Responding to a re-announcement by the SNP of investment in elective surgery centres, Alison Johnstone, Health spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP candidate for Lothian, said:
"Investing in our NHS to meet modern demands is essential but the SNP are simply reheating old figures that give no guarantees about a better service. Ministers admitted to me the figure of £200m cannot be broken down because there is no plan.
"Crucially, there is no guarantee that these new elective centres will come with additional staff to meet growing demand. NHS staff are under huge pressure so recruitment and training is key. Restating a previously promised budget isn't good enough."
The £200m announced today was originally announced by the SNP in October. In December ministers admitted to Alison Johnstone that no final range of services had been agreed:
https://greens.scot/news/surgery-centres-johnstone-discovers-no-plans-agreed-despite-fm-pledge/