Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Lothian Jeremy Balfour says findings revealing the amount NHS Lothian have shelled out on legal costs in recent years are “deeply alarming”.
Jeremy Balfour’s remarks come after responses to a series of Freedom of Information requests by the Scottish Conservatives indicated that health boards across Scotland have spent over £60 million in legal costs since 2018, due to dissatisfied patients taking them to court.
NHS Lothian has spent £3,678,011 on legal costs, with a total of 412 made against the health board.
Jeremy Balfour says his thoughts go out to patients who have been affected by failings in NHS Lothian.
However, he added the blame ultimately lies with successive SNP health secretaries who have “presided over dire workforce planning”, which has left NHS Lothian dangerously understaffed.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jeremy Balfour said: “My thoughts are with those patients in NHS Lothian who have been badly let down.
“However, the buck stops with a series of SNP health secretaries, including Humza Yousaf and the current incumbent, the discredited Michael Matheson, who have presided over dire workforce planning in our NHS.
“That has left NHS Lothian woefully under-resourced.
“Dedicated staff in NHS Lothian are overstretched, and tragically – but inevitably – this is leading to more mistakes being made.
“While anyone who has been on the receiving end of sub-standard care is perfectly justified in lodging a claim, doing so adds to the pressures on NHS Lothian’s budget.
“They can ill-afford costly legal battles when, ideally, every last penny ought to be spent on supporting frontline services in NHS Lothian.”
