NICOLA Sturgeon is to urge Scots to give both votes to the SNP at this week’s election so she can revamp the NHS after Covid.
The First Minister will say the next government “has no time to waste” in helping the NHS get back on its feet.
She will go on to say the SNP is the only party that have plans to deliver a pay-rise for NHS staff, open the first three fast-track cancer diagnosis centres and publish an NHS Recovery Plan to increase NHS activity by 10% to deal with the delays built up by the pandemic within the first 100 days.
Campaigning in East Lothian and Edinburgh today, Sturgeon is expected to say: “It’s been a tough year for all of us, and our health and care staff have performed heroics in the most trying of circumstances.
“The next government has no time to waste in helping our health service get back on its feet – and if the SNP is re-elected on Thursday, we are ready to begin work immediately with a plan for a full-scale remobilisation of our NHS.
“Within just 100 days, we’ll have delivered a pay-rise for NHS workers, opened the first three fast-track cancer diagnostic centres and removed NHS dental charges for care experienced young people as the first step of removing them for everyone.
She will go on: “And within 100 days we’ll publish an NHS Recovery Plan – detailing how we’ll support a 10% increase in inpatient, day patient and outpatient activity to address delays caused by the pandemic, accelerate recruitment of staff and implement our Cancer Recovery Plan.
“We will also lay the groundwork for vital longer-term reforms – including taking the first steps to establish a National Care Service, which will bring enormous improvements both for people receiving care and the staff who care for them.
“By giving both votes to the SNP on Thursday, people can elect a government with the experience and the serious programme for leading Scotland out of the pandemic and protecting our NHS.”
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