Swinney backs Health Secretary even if waiting times targets missed

Health Secretary Neil Gray should not resign if the Government misses its waiting times targets, the First Minister has said.

Last year, the Government pledged to eradicate year-long waits in the health service by this month, but the latest figures put the number of open waits at more than 50,000 in January, with the March target looking likely to be missed.

New figures are due to be released at the end of this month.

Speaking to the Press Association, John Swinney backed his Health Secretary – simply saying “no” when asked if he should resign – but refused to say if he would reappoint him if he wins the election in May, describing such thinking as “presumptuous”.

The First Minister said “huge progress” had been made, adding: “People can make their judgment, but let me tell you the progress that’s been made.

“For eight months in a row we’ve seen a fall in long waits in outpatients and for treatment time guarantee patients.

“We’re seeing huge falls in the level of long waits that are in place.

“There is clearly progress been made as a consequence of the focus that we’ve put on reducing long waits and ensuring that people are getting the treatment they require and that’s evidence of the solid progress that we’re making running the National Health Service.”

The buck, Mr Swinney said, stops with him in Government.

“I’m responsible for everything that goes on in my Government and we’re making progress in the National Health Service,” he said.

But asked if Mr Gray could expect to return to the same office if the SNP forms a government again after May, Mr Swinney said: “Obviously, these are issues that are predicated on the outcome of the election and I’ll decide all these issues should the people of Scotland give me the opportunity to do so.”

He added: “You make your cabinet appointments once you know you’re forming a government, not before – that’s presumptuous.”

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Dame Jackie Baillie said: “John Swinney has given up on our NHS.

“It is clear from the First Minister’s feeble defence of his failing Health Secretary that the SNP have admitted defeat on trying to fix the crisis they’ve created.

“They have no plan and, by the sounds of it, no intention of fixing our NHS.

“Thankfully, Scots will have the chance to vote out the SNP in May and replace them with a Scottish Labour government that will declare a waiting times emergency on day one, and do whatever it takes to bring waiting lists down and fix our NHS.”