Shockingly long wait times for NHS 24, a vital part of Scotland's health service, raise concerns about the overall state of healthcare in the country.
Long waiting times appear to be the norm across the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Government has frequently pointed to funding issues and 14 years of austerity from the Tories. But surely getting people to answer phones for NHS 24 is a straightforward fix? NHS 24 is an essential part of our health service . It alleviates pressure on other areas – particularly GPs and A&E – by providing phone advice to people. Part of what makes it so good is that it is quick to use and easily accessible.
It is shocking that two different callers experienced waits of more than four hours. This could be the difference between catching an ailment early or it becoming much more serious. The clear decline in the service provided by the helpline cannot continue and something must be done to resolve it. Now that the Scottish Government has been allocated more money from Westminster, the challenge for the SNP is to ensure the NHS functions better. A&E waiting times have been terrible – with thousands of Scots waiting for more than an hour before their initial assessment. Just this week it was blamed for thousands of excess deaths. Simultaneously, one in seven Scots is on a waiting list for treatment. Many of these have been compelled to go private to pay for surgery – particularly when it comes to hip and knee replacements. The NHS 24 delays are just another problem our health services face. But the Scottish Government should be able to find a quick solution to this one at least.
NHS Scotland NHS 24 Waiting Times A&E Health Service
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