THE Scottish NHS will “struggle to see out another year” unless “warm words” from ministers are backed up with action, a doctors’ union has warned.

British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland chairman Dr Iain Kennedy rang alarm bells in his annual New Year message today as he pointed to the results of the union’s annual winter pressures survey.

Of the 980 doctors who took part, 99 per cent said they were either extremely concerned (76 per cent) or concerned (23 per cent) about the impact of increased pressures this winter.

But 70 per cent believed the service to be in “crisis mode” the year round.

Eighty-four per cent believed there were insufficient staff to cope with winter pressures, and 86 per cent said they had “no confidence” that the Scottish government would give the NHS sustainable funding that unions have long demanded to tackle chronic staff shortages.

A doctor told the survey: “We feel like we are sinking.”

One GP said they had “been in crisis mode here for months.” 

Another said: “It has become the norm to be operating at 115-120 per cent capacity and have between 10 and 20 admissions sleeping in the ED [emergency department] overnight in corridors.”

Dr Kennedy said the survey showed the Scottish government could not “continue to simply plug gaps with short-term funding.”

He said: “Doctors have heard a lot of warm words recently from the First Minister [John Swinney] and his team about the NHS being at the heart of their recent budget, but words must be matched with a clear vision, a timetable for reform and action.

“The NHS as we know it will struggle to see out another year, as its founding principles, which we all value so highly, will be at risk with more and more people forced to go private or simply left to suffer as they cannot access the care they need when they need it.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray responded: “The measures we set out in the draft Budget, including a record £21 billion investment for health and social care, would mean quicker treatments, more GP appointments, and world-class facilities for people across Scotland.

“I urge Parliament to unite behind it.”