The SNP’s Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman, has refused to rule out job losses at NHS Tayside despite Murdo Fraser inviting her to do so during Topical Questions in the Scottish Parliament.
In a heated session, the Scottish Conservative MSP urged the Cabinet Secretary to rule out the proposed 1,300 job losses but Jeane Freeman refused and could only state that there would be no compulsory redundancies.
Separate statistics have shown that the number of nurses working in NHS Tayside has dropped dramatically since 2014 and long-term vacancies are at an all-time high.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Jeane Freeman was given every opportunity to categorically rule out the proposed 1300 job losses but has declined to do so.
“Despite her bluster, this is not about cheap headlines or political point scoring, as she claims, this is about jobs and patient care.
“These plans were revealed in official NHS Tayside board papers, and nothing they have said so far addresses the concerns that have been raised.
“The Health Secretary’s response will do little to reassure the patients and staff who will be impacted if these proposals materialise.
“Ultimately, we need the Scottish Government to provide clarity and substance and this should have started today. Instead, what we have heard from the Health Secretary will just raise fresh concerns”