NHS Grampian admits failure on 12 week surgery target
The health board says patients can no longer be guaranteed surgery within 12 weeks of diagnosis - unless it is an emergency
Last updated 16th May 2017
NHS Grampian has admitted patients can no longer be guaranteed surgery within 12 weeks of diagnosis - unless it is an emergency.
12 weeks is the timescale set out by the Scottish Government.
The move is being blamed on ongoing staffing problems at the health board - not just in theatre but in wards where patients are cared for before and after surgery.
This is largely because of the comparatively high cost of living in the North East compared to the Central Belt where there are also NHS vacancies.
A spokeswoman said "NHS Grampian is currently unable to see all elective surgical patients within the 12 weeks timescale set out by the Scottish Government. In light of this situation our first priority is to ensure the most urgent patients get treated promptly.
"Therefore we are in the process of implementing an elective classification system to ensure those patients waiting longer are those clinically most able to do so. The classification is clinically led and covers all adult surgical services.
"We realise this will be disappointing news for those patients classed as able to wait longer.
We remain committed to all Scottish Government waiting times standards. This is a pragmatic interim solution to maintain safety whilst current waits are longer than we would like. This is unrelated to the review of access targets being carried out by the Scottish Government."
Alexander Burnett, Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, said: "On the day that the SNP marks ten years in power in Scotland, this is a shocking indictment of its failure to address problems in our health service.
“I know from the numerous examples in my own constituency that very often the wait for an operation is significantly longer than 12 weeks.
Management at NHS Grampian have taken a step which they clearly think is in the best interests of patient
care, but this again raises serious questions about the resources the health board has at its disposal.
"We know that the north-east has been short-changed in terms of funding, while national spending in Scotland has not kept pace with that in England. The SNP government must urgently address this situation - it is simply not good enough for patients to be told that they cannot receive treatment within a nationally agreed timeframe."