South Scotland Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Michelle Ballantyne has called on the SNP to guarantee that NHS Borders will be able to carry out vital operations wherever possible.

The MSP’s call comes after new figures showed that in the last six months between April and September, only 446 took place in the Borders.

Between 2016-19, an average of 2497 operations that took place in the same six-month period, meaning a potential 2,051 were not carried out in recent months.

While Mrs Ballantyne says that everything must be done to tackle rising COVID-19 cases, the SNP must not forget about patients who are waiting for vital operations in the Borders.

Ballantyne has called on the SNP Government to urgently ensure that NHS Borders and frontline staff are given the full resources to provide patients with urgent clarification as to whether their operations will go ahead or not.

Michelle Ballantyne MSP commented:

“While we must do we all we can to tackle the rise in covid-19 cases, the SNP must ensure patients in the Borders who are waiting for vital operations are not simply forgotten about.

“It is concerning that a potential 2,051 operations have been cancelled or put on hold in the last six months.

“The SNP must ensure that NHS Borders and frontline staff are given the urgent resources necessary to ensure procedures can take place wherever possible.

“As we head into winter, waiting times for operations in the Borders cannot spiral out of control.”