A North East MSP has asked for answers from the Scottish Government as NHS Grampian has Scotland’s lowest number of treatment beds per head of population.
The latest statistics reveal NHS Grampian has the lowest number of hospital beds available per 1,000 people — 1.4.
The Bed Base Project Review states this compares with 3.6 for Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 3.1 in Dumfries & Galloway, and 2.8 in neighbouring Tayside.
Tess White, Scottish Conservative MSP for North East Scotland, said this is particularly concerning, given they also recently declared a critical incident.
She said:
“Scottish Ministers must urgently explain why NHS Grampian has been so shortchanged on the number of beds we have available for patients.
“That is even more important given the recent critical incident the health board were forced to declare.
“This shameful lack of beds will ultimately cause backlogs in other areas of our NHS as patients are unable to receive timely treatment.
“Hard-working NHS staff cannot deliver in such impossible conditions, and both they and our patients deserve better.
“The SNP government must commit to investing in frontline care in Grampian to ensure we can offer treatment to every patient who needs it.”
