Sarwar vows to give NHS waiting lists ‘the chop’ as he visits karate dojo

Anas Sarwar has pledged to “give NHS waiting lists the chop” as he visits a karate dojo in Glasgow.

In the last weekend of campaigning before the Holyrood election, the Scottish Labour leader has said the NHS “is not safe with John Swinney or the SNP”.

He has promised to “rescue” the health system from 20 years of SNP “failure”.

The party leader said his priority as first minister would be to cut NHS waiting lists, end the 8am rush for a GP and “bring back the family doctor”.

Scottish Labour has said it would tackle the waiting list backlog by declaring a waiting times emergency, “breaking down barriers” between health boards, and “reforming NHS funding so money follows the patient and people can be treated wherever there is capacity”.

The party said if it forms the next government, it would use all available capacity across Scotland and the UK to get patients treated faster, including short-term use of independent sector capacity where needed, “so patients are not forced to go private for care they should get on the NHS”.

Labour pledged to end corridor care, reduce delayed discharge and speed up ambulance turnaround times.

A Scottish Labour government I lead will give NHS waiting lists the chop

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader
Ahead of his visit to a dojo in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar said: “Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP.

“They have left patients waiting in pain, left families without answers, and pushed our NHS to breaking point.

“You have given the SNP 20 years and Scotland has paid the price. Give me five to save our NHS.

“I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

“A Scottish Labour government I lead will give NHS waiting lists the chop.

“We will declare a waiting times emergency, use every bit of available capacity to get people treated faster, end the 8am rush for a GP and bring back the family doctor.

“This election is a straight choice between more SNP failure and change with Scottish Labour.

“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”

A Reform source said: “We are glad to hear that Anas is taking up a new hobby – he’ll be needing something to occupy him after May 7.

“He may even consider helping to cut waiting lists by going back to working in the NHS after he loses the election.”

Clare Haughey, SNP candidate for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, said: “The only chop Anas Sarwar is planning for Scotland NHS is the £1 billion in funding his Labour Party plans to cut from our health service budget.

“The SNP is the only party with a plan for Scotland’s NHS and it’s working – waiting times are down for 10 months in a row, operation numbers up and GP walk-in centres are opening across the country.

“A re-elected SNP government, under John Swinney’s reliable leadership, will work tirelessly to carry on improving Scotland’s NHS – while Anas Sarwar will be getting the chop this time next week.

Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Tory health spokesman, said: “Scotland’s NHS is in permanent crisis after two decades of failure and mismanagement by the SNP.

“However, patients and staff won’t believe Labour have the answers after Sir Keir Starmer has spent all his time in Downing Street breaking his promises and U-turning.

“Anas Sarwar didn’t even appear to know one of flagship health policies would directly impact him, before he unveiled it.

“The Scottish Conservatives have a clear vision to tackle the crisis in our NHS by ensuring money gets to where it is needed most in frontline care and by boosting the budget given to GPs.

“That is why it is crucial that Scots use their peach ballot paper on Thursday to vote for the Scottish Conservatives as the best way to stop an SNP majority.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain said: “After 19 years, the SNP cannot be trusted with our health service.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out wide-ranging plans to fix care so we can fix the NHS.

“Right now, 2,000 people are stuck in hospital on any given night, despite being medically ready to leave, because there are not enough care packages or care workers to let them get home. It means fewer beds, longer waits and £1.2 million a day just to keep them there.

“We would invest £400 million into care over the next three years to let people leave hospital on time, free up bed space and unlock more resource to get everyone seen in good time.

“If you like the sound of those plans, you should back the Scottish Liberal Democrats on your second, peach, regional ballot paper to make them a reality.”