Scottish Conservative Health Spokesman and Lothian MSP Miles Briggs has called for more to be done to support Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs), in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Patients in Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian have to wait longer for alcohol and drug treatments than any other local authorities in Scotland.
The last three quarters have seen no improvement in NHS Lothians ADP waiting times, with 81% of patients being seen and treated within the three week target.
NHS Grampian (88.1%) and NHS Highland (85.3%) are the only other two health boards that did not meet the 90% target for patients being referred and treated by ADPs within 3 weeks.
Miles Briggs has written to SNP Ministers on two occasions to raise concerns about waits for patients in Edinburgh and the Lothians to receive alcohol and drug treatments.
Waiting times at the West Lothian ADP rose from 67.2% for quarter ending 30th June, to 79.9% quarter ending 30th September, but then dropped again to 72.3% for quarter ending 31st December. (These figures are different to those in letter from Joe Fitzpatrick as ISD update the figures retrospectively).
The Scottish Conservatives launched their new drug strategy that would halve the number of drug deaths in 5 years and increase the number of problem drug users accessing treatment from just 40% to the UK average of 60%.
Miles Briggs said: “Waiting times for Drug and Alcohol Partnerships in Edinburgh and the Lothians have shown no real sign of improvement over the last year.
“It is crucial that people who need treatment for alcohol and drugs are seen in a timely manner, which is not currently the case.
“I will continue to pressure SNP Ministers to support Lothian ADPs to bring waiting times within the national target of 90% of patients being treated within three weeks.”
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