News of big drops in patients being seen quickly in A&E departments has heaped further pressure on the Scottish Government to tackle the strain on Fife’s NHS.
Labour MSP Claire Baker said it was becoming “increasingly clear” doctors and nurses did not have the resources needed to ensure patients were treated to the highest standards.
Her comments follow calls from fellow-Fife MSPs Alex Rowley and Cara Hilton for an inquiry after eight elective operations were called off at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital in one day.
In particular, Mrs Baker has called for more action to address a significant drop in the number of people treated in accident and emergency within the four-hour waiting time target.
Figures released last week show that in December, NHS Fife treated 90.9% of patients within four hours, compared to 98.5% the previous year and 95.2% in November.
The Government has set a target that 98% of people attending A&E should be treated within four hours.
In a letter to health minister Shona Robison, Mrs Baker said the figures indicated the necessary infrastructure and support to allow staff to cope was still not available.
Mr Rowley claimed NHS Fife “just bounces from crisis to crisis” and added: “Put money in but also get to the bottom of what’s going on because it is unacceptable.”
This was despite a Scottish Government announcement this week of a £17.5 million boost for NHS Fife in 2015/16, as well as an additional £2.4m windfall to tackle delayed discharges.
This represents a 3.8% increase in funding on the previous year.
Mrs Baker said: “Our staff within the NHS do a great job under ever increasing pressures and therefore, it is vital they have the resources available to them to ensure our patients are being treated to the highest possible standards.
“We knew previously that they are struggling with bed blocking and locum costs. We now know that they are also struggling to meet their waiting time target.
“That is why the Scottish Government must take action.”
She added: “The NHS is the number one issue that fills my inbox and it is important that we have all the information available to address any concerns raised.”
In her letter, she said: “Whilst I acknowledge that winter months can lead to an increased demand within our health service, the figures reported for NHS Fife were the worst recorded for the health board since February 2012.
“It now seems that last year’s 98.5% for December 2013 was the exception rather than the rule and the NHS in Fife has returned to its December average of 90.76% since 2010.
“This would indicate that despite knowing the winter months will result in increased demand, the infrastructure and support is still not available in Fife for its dedicated team of staff to cope.”
Mrs Baker has also written to NHS Fife to ask for weekly updates on the health service within the kingdom.
Each week, every health board in the country sends statistics to the Scottish Government.
The Labour Party in Scotland has called for this information to be released weekly, as it is in England.