Sturgeon is considering NHS report

HEALTH secretary Nicola Sturgeon is considering a report into the NHS Lothian practice of offering patients appointments in England, and then removing them from waiting list target figures when they declined those appointments.

NHS Lothian chief executive James Barbour pledged to submit the report to Ms Sturgeon after it was revealed that patients had been offered treatment in Harrogate and Northumberland.

Although those patients were not removed from waiting lists when they declined, it is understood that they were not counted towards new NHS targets of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment.

In response to a parliamentary question from Sarah Boyack MSP, Ms Sturgeon said: “I received NHS Lothian’s report and I’m in the process of giving it my full consideration. If there are any lessons to be learned, I can assure the member they will be learned.”