Marie McNair MSP praises Scottish healthcare services

An MSP has praised the progress in healthcare services in West Dumbartonshire.

Clydebank and Milngavie MSP Marie McNair's comments come following an increase in operations, reductions in waiting times, and rising numbers of GPs.

In October, NHS Scotland recorded its highest monthly number of operations since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 271,328 procedures carried out.

This represents a 4.6% increase on the previous year.

Ms McNair said: "Under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP Government made investing in public services in West Dunbartonshire including the NHS, one of its top priorities.

"The record levels of investment in our NHS this year are showing results with the numbers of operations rising, waiting times coming down and GP numbers on the rise."

Long waits of more than a year for outpatient and inpatient procedures have now fallen for five consecutive months.

Recent data also indicates that Scotland continues to have the highest number of GPs per capita in the UK, with 83 GPs per 100,000 residents. This compares with 64 per 100,000 in England.

Since September 2024, the number of GPs in Scotland has grown by 171.

The Scottish Government recently unveiled a new £531 million funding agreement with GPs aimed at further supporting recruitment and retention across the country.

Ms McNair said: "We are not only investing record sums in our NHS but are also transforming the way that care is delivered in West Dunbartonshire and across the country to meet the needs of patients.

"The introduction of GP walk-in centres will make it easier for communities to get treatment when they need it while procedures carried out in our National Treatment Centres are set to rise to over 30,000 in 2025/26."

The new deal is intended to build on existing efforts to improve patient access, including the planned introduction of walk-in GP clinics.

The Scottish Government has also made progress in mental health services for younger people.

Recent figures from Public Health Scotland show that 91.5% of children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) began treatment within 18 weeks.

Ms McNair linked these improvements to the government’s wider public service priorities.

She said: "While the Labour Party continually talks down our dedicated NHS staff, the SNP is getting on with making it easier for people in West Dunbartonshire and across Scotland to get the treatment they need, when they need it."

The SNP government has designated healthcare investment as one of its key priorities.

In the most recent budget, it allocated what it described as record levels of funding to the NHS.

Marie McNair MSP