FMQs: Nicola Sturgeon accused of "eight years of excuses" on NHS waits

Nicola Sturgeon was  accused of "eight years of excuses" on Scotland's NHS as it emerged cleanliness inspections in hospitals have plumetted

Nicola Sturgeon defended her Government's NHS record

The SNP leader also came under fire over more than 70,000 breaches of Scots' legal guarantee to NHS treatment within 12 weeks. The flagship target was enshrined in law in 2011 by the SNP Government but it is now missed in about a quarter of all cases across Scotland.

It comes after the death of a child at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow caused an outcry last month after it emerged a bug, likely contracted at the hospital, from pigeon droppings was a factor in the death.

Mr Carlaw accused Ms Sturgeon of seeking to "pass the buck."

He added: "She and the Health Secretary need to ensure that these important inspections are increased to previous levels.

“The tragic events at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow over the last few months demand no less.”

"It's been eight years since this law was passed and it's been eight years of excuses,"Mr Rennie said.

Ms Sturgeon insisted the Scottish Government is investing record sums in the NHS and there are record staff levels.

But she added: "Demand for our national health service is rising. That is ensuring rising demand, is ensuring pressure on waiting times. That's exactly why we have in place the waiting times improvement plan which is backed by £850 million of dedicated resources."

Some of this has already been allocated.

Ms Sturgeon added: "I regret the fact that there are people who are not being treated within the treatment time guaranree, but I would also remind Jackson Carlaw that since that guarantee was introduced over 1.7 million patients received treatment within the required timeframe."