Waiting lists audit draws more queries

MORE questions have been asked in the Scottish Parliament about the audit into NHS Lothian’s handling of waiting lists.

As the Evening News revealed earlier this month, the Scottish Government insisted on taking over an external audit of the health board’s waiting times practices after the probe was initially ordered by NHS Lothian.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the audit should be directed by the Scottish Government in the interests of “appropriate corporate governance”, following the revelation that NHS Lothian was offering patients unrealistic surgery appointments in England and removing them from waiting times targets when they refused.

Lothians MSP David McLetchie asked Ms Sturgeon in the debating chamber why she had not insisted on directing auditors from the start, and claimed that waiting list guidance was confusing and ambiguous.

She said: “I do not accept that there is ambiguity in the waiting times guidance that would excuse any board from adhering to the guidance.”