Extra NHS funding ‘not matched by performance’ says think tank

Last week, John Swinney pledged his government would bring down NHS waiting lists and make it easier to get GP appointments.

The SNP leader announced measures he said would put the health service “on a path of modernisation and renewal”.

Opposition leaders accused the SNP of mismanaging the NHS, which has seen record waiting times and delayed discharge figures in recent months.

Medical unions welcomed parts of the announcement, but said it lacked detail.

The first minister said the health service would carry out an extra 150,000 appointments and procedures in the coming year.

That is to include 10,000 through “smarter working” at national treatment centres.

Swinney said hospitals would also do an extra 9,500 cataract procedures, as well as 2,500 extra orthopaedic appointments and procedures, such as hip or knee replacements.

He also pledged £10.5m to improve GP capacity and “intervene earlier” in preventing illness.