South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has raised serious concerns following NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s confirmation that more “tough decisions” lie ahead, despite millions already being cut from services.
In a statement last week, the health board warned that further savings of £21.3 million are needed this year, as it tries to stay within the Scottish Government’s £25 million overspend limit for 2025/26. The board is currently forecasting a deficit of £28 million.
Colin Smyth said: “I am inundated with concerns from constituents who are at breaking point because of the crisis in our NHS. People are waiting years in pain for hip and knee replacements, loved ones are stuck in hospital beds because there is nowhere for them to be discharged to, and countless families can’t even register with an NHS dentist or GP.
“You simply cannot make the kind of cuts being demanded by the Scottish Government without damaging patient care.
“Yes, the fact the health board has made significant savings is a testament to their efforts — but it’s clear this is not sustainable. We are already seeing services suffer and staff stretched to the limit. It is patients who are paying the price for a government that is failing to grasp the scale of the crisis facing our health service.”
