Anas Sarwar has said he is standing to be first minister to “save the NHS” – claiming Scotland’s health service is “not safe with John Swinney and the SNP”. The Scottish Labour leader issued the warning with just over 48 hours to go before voting opens in the Holyrood elections.
Opinion polls have consistently put the SNP ahead in the run-up to May 7, suggesting Labour are in a contest with Reform UK for second place at Holyrood. Mr Sarwar however has said that “this election isn’t over”, as he seeks to oust the SNP, who have been in power for 19 years.
His comments came as staff working in the NHS spoke out about the “missed opportunities and neglected services” – with one doctor also warning of the toll that long waits are having on patients. Susan Bowie, a GP in Shetland, said: “I am seeing first-hand the pressure general practice is under and the toll long waits are taking on patients.” While the SNP plans to introduce more walk-in GP clinics if the party wins Thursday’s election, Dr Bowie said these were “just a gimmick that will draw resources away from overstretched GP services”.
Meanwhile Malcolm Macleod, Professor of neurology and translational neurosciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: “I’ve been working as a neurologist in the NHS for 25 years, and it pains me to see the missed opportunities and neglected services.” He added that Thursday’s election is a “chance to change that”, with Prof Macleod stating: “I’m tired of seeing excellent, highly motivated clinical colleagues – doctors and nurses and others – working really hard to build up a service only for it to come crashing down when someone retires, or goes off sick.”
The neurologist continued: “The SNP seems to be much more interested in headlines in the papers than in whether the NHS is actually working for patients. Every excellent service I know – and there are many excellent services – are like that because of the leadership and commitment of the people who run them and work in them, often in the face of disinterest or even opposition from government.”
Mr Sarwar meanwhile said: “Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP. They have left patients waiting in pain, families without answers and staff under unbearable pressure. We have all seen the mess the SNP have made over 20 years, and families across Scotland have paid the price.”
Appealing to voters the Scottish Labour leader stated: “You’ve given the SNP 20 years, give me five to save our NHS. I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland. My first priority as First Minister will be to put our NHS first by cutting waiting lists, ending the 8am rush for a GP and bringing back the family doctor. So with just 48 hours to go, my message is simple: This Thursday, reject Reform, beat the SNP and save Scotland’s NHS. Vote Scottish Labour.”
Maree Todd, SNP candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “Deeply alarming independent analysis shows Anas Sarwar would cut NHS spending by £1 billion – he would send our NHS backwards. We have the best performing A&E, waiting times are down, operation numbers are up, we have more GPs and GP walk-in centres are opening all over the country – the SNP’s plan for the NHS is working. Under John Swinney’s reliable and trusted leadership, we will go further and deliver a national plan for hospital flow, driving down delayed discharge from hospital from day one.”
