Anger over 'betrayal' of women as Gynaecology waiting times soar in Ayrshire
The SNP government is 'betraying women,' Scottish Labour MSP Carol Mochan has warned- after new data showed some women in the NHS Ayrshire & Arran area were forced to wait years for key gynaecology appointments.
One woman had to wait more than two years, while the median wait for a gynaecology appointment has more than tripled in the last six years, according to FOI data obtained by Scottish Labour.
The government promised to improve outcomes in women's health; however, waiting times for gynaecology appointments and other key gynaecology procedures have barely improved, meaning many women are forced to wait far too long for care which is often time sensitive.
Gynaecological waits cover women's reproductive health and include everything from the keyhole surgery needed to identify endometriosis to prolapsed wombs and complex contraception.
Commenting, South Scotland Labour List MSP and Scottish Labour's Women's Health spokesperson, Carol Mochan, said: 'Behind these shocking figures are Ayrshire women waiting in pain and anxiety for years at a time.
'The SNP government promised to improve women's health — instead it has let them down again by allowing waiting lists soar.
'Women and their health deserve better. I am committed to overseeing a significant reduction in these waiting list times so that women's health is going in the right direction rather than being held back, but that will not happen if we keep making excuses.'
Jenni Minto, the Minister for Women's Health, said: 'I understand that it is upsetting and frustrating for women who face long waits in pain and discomfort for treatment and diagnosis. This government is focussed on taking the action needed to cut waiting lists.
'We have allocated over £8.8 million to health boards to target long waits for gynaecology and expect this to deliver significant improvements to the waiting list backlog in the coming year through waiting list initiatives and recruitment.
'As the first country in the UK to publish a Women's Health Plan we are working with NHS and other partners to improve health outcomes for women and girls. Timely access to gynaecology services must be addressed and gynaecology will be included as a priority in the next phase of the plan.'
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