Scotland’s NHS

Scotland’s NHS needs our help. New figures show that in one week this year almost 1,500 Scots were forced to wait more than 8 hours – and some as many as 12 hours – to be treated in A&E departments. [1] That’s just not good enough.

The Scottish Government say the flu crisis is to blame. [2] But this is a problem that’s been bubbling under the surface for a long time. [3] Scotland’s NHS simply needs much more money to provide the world-class service our country deserves.

The Scottish Government is working out the details of its new budget at the moment. [4] That means there’ll be intense conversations behind closed doors to iron out the details of where money will get spent. If we can get our voices heard in those debates, we can make sure our NHS gets the money it needs.

Will you sign the petition telling the Scottish Government’s health minister to make sure our NHS gets the funding it needs?

SIGN THE PETITION

People in Scotland deserve the best healthcare possible – and right now, that isn’t what we’re getting. Whether it’s waiting times, or local hospital services facing cuts, it’s clear that our NHS needs much more funding that it’s getting right now. [5]

It doesn’t have to be this way. If enough of us speak up, we can show the Scottish Government that they need to take bold action and give the NHS the money it desperately needs.

Notes:
[1] Daily Record: A&E 12-hour wait shame continues as flu chaos continues to strain NHS:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/flu-chaos-continues-wreak-ae-11863467
[2] The Telegraph: SNP Health Minister: Scottish flu cases have doubled but NHS problems here not as bad as England’s:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/04/snp-health-minister-scottish-flu-cases-have-doubled-nhs-problems/
[3]You can read more about issues the NHS is facing in Scotland here:
The Independent: NHS winter crisis: Lanarkshire health trust drafts in office workers to help with cleaning amid soaring demand for A&E services:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-winter-crisis-latest-updates-lanarkshire-trust-scotland-accident-emergency-non-urgent-office-a8140411.html
BBC: Scottish NHS ‘urgently’ needs long-term staffing plan: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40728831
Scotsman: NHS Scotland staffing time bomb as one in five Scots nurses over 55 https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/nhs-scotland-staffing-time-bomb-as-one-in-five-scots-nurses-over-55-1-4646061
PlanetRadio: Highland hospitals closure threat sparks huge demonstration:
https://planetradio.co.uk/mfr/local/news/watch-highland-hospitals-closure-threat-sparks-huge-demonstration/
The Scotsman: Hospitals and NHS Scotland facilities ‘may need to be axed’:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/hospitals-and-nhs-scotland-facilities-may-need-to-be-axed-1-4513073
[4] BBC News: What does 2018 have in store for Scottish politics?:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42606930 BBC News: Summary of draft budget: Key points at a glance: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42353784
[5] The Telegraph: A&E chiefs from 68 hospitals warn patients are ‘dying in hospital corridors’ amid ‘intolerable’ safety risks:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/11/hospital-crowding-soars-amid-rising-cases-norovirus-aussie-flu/