A SCOTTISH LibDem MP has been mocked after seeming to claim that millions more people are on NHS waiting lists in Scotland than even live in the country.
The flyer from Jamie Stone, the LibDem MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, claimed that 7.7 million people are on NHS Scotland waiting lists.
The British Medical Association reported that, in March 2023, there were around 627,000 people on NHS Scotland waiting lists, less than 10% of what is implied by Stone’s flyer.
Stone’s leaflet states: “Under the SNP our NHS has been stretched to breaking point.
“Doctors and nurses are working tirelessly but they have been let down by years of underfunding and mismanagement.
“Local patients and families are paying the price.
“7.7 million people are on the NHS waiting list, with several NHS Highland patients waiting over 34 weeks.”
The total population of Scotland is estimated to be around 5.5 million, around 2.2 million fewer people than Stone implies are on the NHS waiting list north of the Border.
It appears the LibDem MP may have been using figures for NHS England.
The BMA reported that, in January 2024, there were 7.58 million cases, consisting of approximately 6.32 million individual patients, on NHS England waiting lists.
A National reader who flagged the flyer credited Liz Kraft, an SNP councillor on Highland Council, for first raising questions about it.
Gotta love LibDem maths. Scottish population 5.5 million.
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) March 19, 2024
But 7.7 million apparently on the NHS waiting list!
Here are some facts: Scotland more GPs per head. Better paid nurses. No strikes. A&E wait list Scotland best performing in Britain. pic.twitter.com/IlmfMpVi2r
Highlighting the leaflet on social media, SNP MP John Nicolson said: “Gotta love LibDem maths. Scottish population 5.5 million.
“But 7.7 million apparently on the NHS waiting list!
“Here are some facts: Scotland more GPs per head. Better paid nurses. No strikes. A&E wait list Scotland best performing in Britain.”
The LibDems have long been criticised for misleading flyers, including one which saw them broadcast the results of a poll based on a thought-experiment about them being more popular.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats did not respond to requests for comment.
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