Dr. Iain Kennedy highlights urgent need for action to improve NHS services in the Highlands.
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A prominent doctor in the Highlands has raised serious concerns regarding the state of the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to prevent a further decline in healthcare quality and access. Dr. Iain Kennedy, a general practitioner based in Inverness, voiced his worries following a recent survey that revealed alarming trends in healthcare access across the north and north-east regions.
Growing alarm over healthcare access
Dr. Kennedy highlighted the potential emergence of a two-tier healthcare system, where patients are forced to spend significant amounts of money on private healthcare to avoid long waiting times. He pointed out that many rural areas, particularly in the Highlands, are facing severe challenges in accessing essential medical services.
“The NHS used to be the place in the world people wanted to work,” he stated, lamenting the current state of affairs.
Despite acknowledging that patients often receive good care when they do access healthcare services, Dr. Kennedy expressed concern that the overall access to these services is deteriorating. He noted that some patients are now required to travel over 100 miles for basic procedures, such as baby scans, which he described as shocking.
Impact of staff shortages and government pledges
As the pressure on healthcare staff continues to mount, Dr. Kennedy emphasized that general practitioners (GPs) are struggling to meet the growing demand for services. He described the profession as rewarding but increasingly challenging. In response to these issues, First Minister John Swinney recently outlined a series of pledges aimed at improving NHS services, including increasing the availability of GP appointments.
However, Dr. Kennedy remains skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures. He pointed out that while the government claims the public is willing to travel for healthcare, many patients may not share this sentiment. “We know the remote and rural areas of Scotland are the most difficult to provide healthcare to, and things have got worse,” he remarked.
Calls for honest political discourse
With the next Scottish Parliament election approaching in May, Dr. Kennedy urged politicians to provide honest answers regarding the state of the NHS. He expressed concern that the current trajectory is not improving, stating, “Things are getting worse, they’re not getting better, and we need to see some hope for the future.” He highlighted the need for a healthcare system that remains free at the point of delivery, as many patients are increasingly forced to turn to private options due to long waiting times.
Dr. Kennedy’s comments resonate with many who feel that the NHS is straying from its founding principles. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the call for urgent action to address these pressing issues has never been more critical.
