824,725 STUCK ON NHS WAITING LIST

Crisis grows as grim figures highlight failure

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

A STAGGERING 824,725 Scots are currently on an NHS waiting list.

Scottish Government action to tackle the backlog of patients waiting more than a year, 18 months and two years has failed.

Figures released yesterday revealed that instead of long waiting times being eradicated, some of the lists have actually grown.

Labour's health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said new Health Secretary Neil Gray had inherited "a perfect storm from his incompetent predecessors".

Baillie said: "SNP mismanagement of our NHS has led to spiralling waits, rising inpatient waiting times and people languishing in pain and in danger in A&E departments.

"While NHS staff work tirelessly, this SNP government is more interested in indulging in petty party politics than putting our NHS first their priorities are not those of the people of Scotland.