Rowley Pledges NHS Inquiry

Deputy Scottish Labour leadership candidate wants a root and branch examination of the NHS.

Alex Rowley, the MSP for Cowdenbeath, is urging the Scottish Government to launch an in-depth inquiry into the running of the National Health Service in Scotland.

He claims the system is failing the Scottish people and wants hearings in every part of the country on how the NHS is meeting the needs of the people. He says the review must involve patients as well as health professionals in the process.
 
Mr Rowley wants a review of how spending on the National Health Service has risen slower in Scotland than in England, despite rising needs.
 
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has looked at the most recent numbers up to 2015-16, and found that, on the data available, Scottish health spending rose by roughly one per cent between 2009-10 and the current financial year, while English health spending rose by SIX per cent in real terms.
 
Last month it was found that areas of Scotland were going without GP cover and people are queuing simply to get appointments.
 
The proposed review will look at the two other major challenges facing Scotland’s NHS 'health inequalities and the ageing population' and how these can be effectively tackled.
 
Alex Rowley said: "We have gone from one crisis to another in the NHS, with shortages of GPs, social care is in crisis, new hospitals not functioning well, long waiting times and patients being denied vital services they need.
 
"I have catalogued an endless succession of problems that now need a comprehensive review.
 
“No matter the constitutional changes taking place in our country there will always be tough choices when it comes to public spending and so the question remains, should we priorities health and social care? I say yes”.