Gray’s ’11th-hour’ NHS winter plan deemed too little, too late by Tories

The Health Secretary has waited until the “11th hour” to set out his NHS winter plan, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

Neil Gray will set out his proposals for the health service over the months ahead in a statement at Holyrood on Thursday.

Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the plan should have come sooner and “well in advance” of the winter months.

“This 11th-hour attempt to patch together a winter plan is doomed to fail,” the Glasgow MSP said.

“Someone should buy Neil Gray a calendar. He needs to know that a winter plan should come well in advance of winter starting.”

NHS Scotland faces added pressure in the winter due to increased demand due to seasonal illnesses like flu, leading to longer emergency department waits and strain on staff.

Amid rising flu cases last winter, Public Health Scotland data for the final week of 2024 showed 58.4% of patients in A&E were seen and either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours – well above the Scottish Government’s target of 95%.

It was announced on Tuesday that almost 100 new ambulance staff had been hired to help ease the winter pressure.

Dr Gulhane said: “After nearly two decades of SNP mismanagement, our NHS is experiencing winter-level pressure all year round – even at the height of summer.

“Week after week, thousands of patients are waiting hours for crucial treatment, staff are at breaking point, and a flu crisis is already putting even more pressure on our health service.

“This week, we saw the harrowing case of a pensioner waiting over 12 hours in A&E and left to lie on a camping bed. This statement will be too little, too late.

“Neil Gray’s belated announcement must give our frontline staff the support they need to help their patients, otherwise frontline care will collapse in the coming months.”

The Scottish Government have been approached for comment.