Baillie claims patients are being forced to share blankets under NHS cuts

CUTS to the NHS mean patients in one hospital are having to share blankets, Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie claimed yesterday.

Baillie made the claim – which was denied by the health board in question – as she argued that the health service under the SNP Scottish Government was facing “severe challenges”.

Baillie told Labour’s Scottish conference in Dundee: “Don’t believe the SNP spin about protecting the NHS, they can see all too well the practical consequences of SNP cuts on their wards.

“This is not just an NHS straining to cope with increased demand and fewer resources, this is an NHS which is in danger of crumbling around us.”

She went on: “The SNP can’t even get the basics right: in one hospital in Greater Glasgow and Clyde patients are even having to share blankets because of the cuts.”

Baillie added: “The reality is these cuts were a political choice. They were made in Scotland by the SNP.”

However a spokeswoman for Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board said there was “no truth” in the MSP’s remarks.

The spokeswoman said: “This matter was raised with us a few weeks ago and we were able to provide proof that there was no truth in this claim.”

She added: “Extra blankets are available in all our hospitals, as and when patients need them.”

Baillie also said “real savings” must be made in health service bureaucracy with changes needed to be made to the current set up of 14 regional health boards and eight special health boards, which run services such as the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS24.