Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
But in a Holyrood magazine interview, Mr Gray was asked if there was a crisis in the Scottish health service. He replied: “No.”
The Health Secretary, who took over in February following the resignation of Michael Matheson, also said that “most people get an incredibly good service” from the NHS.
“For people who wait too long – and I readily accept that there are too many people who wait far too long for treatment – that feeling is going to be there,” he said.
“For staff who feel tired or feel the frustration of not being able to get treatment for their patients, of course there will be that feeling too.
READ MORE: Scot Govt: Consultation on non-surgical cosmetic procedures
READ MORE: 95 per cent of cancer patients are ‘positive’ about the care received
READ MORE: Hospital whistleblower was told she was a ‘boss of nothing’ – investigation
“But I want to make sure that there is a realistic balance between the challenges that are there, which are clear, which are not unique to Scotland either, I need to make sure that we tackle those, but I also cannot allow a situation where every aspect of the health service is perceived in that way.
“Most people get an extremely good service from caring, committed, dedicated and professional staff.
“They do that on time and they do that in an environment that is conducive to them getting good results.”
However, Mr Gray admitted there were “challenges” in the health sector and said he would be “the first to accept that”.
“This is not a Health Secretary who ignores challenges or does not take responsibility. This is the Health and Government Secretary who are facing them.”
His comments have been heavily criticized by opposition parties, particularly as figures show that 2,818 patients spent more than eight hours in an emergency department in the week ending September 1, while 1,134 waited longer. or 12 hours before they are seen and subsequently received, transferred or released. .
The Scottish Government standard requires 95% of patients to be seen within four hours of arriving at A&E – but this figure has not been met since the early months of the pandemic.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “Neil Gray is in denial. One in six Scots are on the NHS waiting list – if that doesn’t amount to a crisis, I dread to think what does.
“The reason the health secretary will not accept what is staring him in the face is because it would mean admitting how badly the SNP has let down NHS patients and staff.”
Scottish Labor deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie described the Health Secretary’s comments as “salt in the wound for all Scots dealing with the deadly crisis in our NHS”.
He added: “With almost one in six Scots languishing on a waiting list and lives being put at risk every week in overstretched A&E departments, it is astonishingly out of touch to insist that there is no any emergency.
“NHS staff do an amazing job looking after us but they are let down by the SNP again and again.
“Scotland deserves better than this incompetent and complacent SNP Government.”
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24585890.nhs-not-crisis-scottish-health-secretary-says/?ref=rss
