AT least 183 routine operations at NHS Grampian have been postponed since November, including 29 in January, and the health board have warned that there are more delays yet to come.
Ruth Davidson said the situation in Aberdeen was an example of how the SNP had failed the NHS.
The Scots Tory leader raised the case of Hugh Falconer from Inverurie, who was given an urgent referral for treatment last year and was told that he would receive surgery within 12 weeks. NHS Grampian have now said he will not get the the operation.
Davidson claimed that in NHS Grampian there were “operating theatres that are lying empty, because hospitals do not have the staff”.
“I know that the First Minister cannot comment on individual cases, but I remind her of Audit Scotland’s findings last year that after 10 years of this Scottish National Party Government it has failed to do the long-term planning to build up a sustainable workforce in the NHS.
“Given that the Government has been at this for a decade, can the First Minister give an explanation to people like Mr Falconer who cannot get an operation while operating theatres are lying empty due to a lack of staff?”
Sturgeon hit back, saying that under her government NHS staffing in total had increased by more than 11,500 whole-time equivalents.
“That takes staffing in our health service now to a record level,” the First Minister said. ”NHS Grampian, for example, is working to increase its theatre staff and its surgical team has just employed seven newly qualified practitioners. That is a sign of our commitment to staffing in our national health service.”
After Davidson, asked the question, North East MSP Gillian Martin tweeted that Ruth Davidson had made a “false claim that ARI theatres are empty”.
“Not what NHS Grampian told MSPs. Still no Tory MSPs attended that meeting,” she added.
In a statement NHS Aberdeen said it was wrong to suggest operations being cancelled was purely down to recruitment.
“We have 22 registered nurse vacancies and eight unregistered nurse vacancies across ARI and Woodend theatres at present. This is not solely a theatre staffing issue. Challenges in pre- and post-operative care, including the number of very ill patients we are treating at present, are all adding to the pressure we are facing.
“We have employed seven Newly Qualified Practitioners and anticipate they will be able to take part in the rota from March onwards.”
A spokesperson for NHS Grampian, said: “We recognise this is an anxious time for patients with procedures planned in the coming weeks. We are contacting all patients affected to explain what is happening.”
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