Murdo Fraser MSP is urging the SNP to wind-up the Test and Protect system in order to provide funding for new nurses in Tayside.
The Scottish Conservative politician’s call comes after recent figures revealed that £211 million has so far been given by the SNP Government to Test and Protect during 2021/22. If that money was diverted instead towards frontline services, Scottish Conservative party research shows that it could deliver over 8,000 extra nurses across Scotland.
This would include an extra 630 nurses in Tayside, made possible by around £16 million from the Test and Protect budget.
Mr Fraser says that the Test and Protect system was a valuable resource during the early stages of the pandemic but has now become increasingly redundant in recent months. Figures show that during the peak of the Omicron wave, 60% of positive cases in Scotland were not contacted within 72 hours.
The Scottish Conservatives have published a policy blueprint entitled ‘Back to Normality’ which recommends a move away from mass testing towards representative sampling, which would allow for a dramatic reduction in the resource allocated to monitor Covid.
Mr Fraser says resources must now be diverted away from Test and Protect towards supporting frontline services to help tackle ever-growing treatment backlogs and missed A&E waiting times.
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “As we continue to see positive data surrounding Covid, we need to see a more targeted approach to the virus from the SNP Government.
“Part of the approach should be replacing Test and Protect. It was vital during many stages of the Covid crisis in helping to trace cases in Tayside but is now not serving its purpose.
“These figures are stark and show how money could be diverted towards hiring many new nurses in Tayside, if over £200 million wasn’t being spent on Test and Protect.”
Mr Fraser continued: “Frontline services in Tayside are in desperate need of extra money and support. A&E waiting times are being missed every week, the treatment backlog is ever-growing and heroic staff are absolutely exhausted."
