HUMZA YOUSAF’S comments to striking nurses are “shockingly out of touch” and he is “breaking all the records for incompetence,” Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said today.

The Scottish Health and Social Care secretary was filmed having a discussion with members of the Royal Collage of Nursing (RCN) about pay and conditions outside the SNP conference in Aberdeen.

In one exchange, he told a nurse: “Let’s not patronise each other” when she spoke of concerns the professionals had on the quality of care.

The RCN opened a ballot of members on Thursday that could see staff going on strike for the first time in Scotland.

Ms Baillie said: “This is shockingly out of touch from this woeful excuse of a Health Secretary.

“Humza Yousaf is breaking all the records for incompetence in a government that has had its fair share of poor ministers.

“To talk to front-line nurses like this is shameful.”

In the exchange, nurses told Mr Yousaf that they had never seen so many people from their profession wanting to go on strike, saying: “We are not valued, we are not respected, and we see that in what we are offered in terms of pay.”

One protester said: “We have a responsibility to our patients … we have concerns about patient care and patient safety, our responsibility is to say to you that this is not acceptable.”

“We’re saying this to you and you’re not listening.”

Another said: “Hearing and listening are two different things.” 

Mr Yousaf responded: “I know that. Let’s not patronise each other.”

Ms Baillie is calling for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to put Mr Yousaf in “special measures.”

“Make no mistake, it is the failures of this SNP government that have forced nurses to consider industrial action,” she said.