Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw has called on the SNP Government to guarantee that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be able to carry out vital operations wherever possible.
The call from the MSP comes after new figures showed that in the six months from April to September 2020, only 11,047 operations were carried out in the health board region.
That compares to an average of 38,905 operations that took place between the same period in years 2016-19, meaning a potential 27,858 procedures may not have been carried out in recent months.
While Mr Carlaw acknowledges that everything must be done to tackle rising Covid cases, the Member for Eastwood has also stated that the SNP must not forget about patients who are lying waiting for vital operations in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The Scottish Conservative MSP has said that the SNP Government must urgently ensure that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the health board's frontline staff are given the full resources so that patients can be given urgent clarification as to whether their operations will go ahead or not.
Mr Carlaw's Eastwood constituency is part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“Whilst all steps must be taken to tackle the rise in Covid cases, the SNP also have to ensure that patients in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are waiting for vital operations are not simply forgotten about.
"The massive drop in the number of surgeries taking place between April and September compared with the same period in previous years is a significant and pressing concern.
“The SNP must ensure that the health board and frontline staff are given the urgent resources necessary to ensure procedures can take place wherever possible.
“As we head into winter, waiting times for people in Eastwood to receive vital operations in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde cannot spiral out of control.”