Meeting of the Parliament 19 November 2025
My colleague Finlay Carson’s motion is absolutely spot on, and I thank him for bringing the debate to the chamber. Under the SNP, taxpayers are paying more and getting less.
Last year, community hospitals in the Borders faced a challenge when NHS Borders proposed the closure of 92 beds across Kelso, Duns and Hawick in my constituency, and in Peebles in the neighbouring constituency. My constituents are aware of the difficulty of delivering healthcare in rural areas, and the potential bed closure sparked huge concern, with nearly 4,000 people signing a petition to protect the community hospitals.
I acknowledge that a review is under way, but NHS Borders faces a significant financial challenge. Last year, its opening deficit was £28.1 million, leading to the potential for cost savings to be required in front-line services. Those services are being impacted right across the board, and, furthermore, delayed discharges in the Borders are already among the worst in Scotland. The Scottish Government should—and does—have a duty to ensure sustainable access to vital treatment options provided by community hospitals, especially in rural areas, because they plug those gaps.
The rural inequalities do not stop there. The average waiting time for a laparoscopy procedure for endometriosis in NHS Borders is 53 days, while the longest wait time is 126 days.