Cole-Hamilton responds to Swinney health speech

Responding to John Swinney's speech this morning, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“In budget negotiations, I have stressed to the government that getting patients seen by doctors and dentists has to be of the utmost importance.

“In some ways this is a strange speech. The Health Secretary has been sidelined and John Swinney is going through the motions. With significant extra funding it would be more astonishing if the government didn’t announce extra appointments and procedures.

“The challenge will now be delivery. We have had endless SNP proclamations over the last 18 years and yet waits for cancer treatment and A&E departments have got worse and worse.

“No wonder 98% of doctors say they have no or little confidence in the Scottish Government to put the NHS on a sustainable footing.

“To deliver a sustained, long-term plan for the NHS and social care is going to require a change of government.”