The Scottish NHS needs “overall vision” if it is become sustainable, a watchdog has warned.

In its latest report on Scotland’s NHS, Audit Scotland have said that the SNP-Green Scottish government were “unlikely” to meet their Programme for Government targets in the service as it continues to struggle with growing vacancies.

It warned patient safety was suffering while “only three out of eight key waiting times standards have been met at a national level in any quarter in the last five years,” as nursing vacancies grew from 3,024 in 2018 to 5,447 in 2023, and a costly dependency on agency nurses as use grew 79 per cent last year at a cost of £169.9 million.

Audit Scotland added: “There are a range of strategies, plans and policies in place for the future delivery of healthcare, but no overall vision.”

Commenting on the report, British Medical Association Scotland chairman Dr Iain Kennedy said: “Staffing — and workforce planning — is woefully inadequate, leaving healthcare professionals feeling exhausted and unable to provide safe or effective care.

“If this report isn’t an urgent call to action, then it’s hard to imagine what might be.”

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “This report lays bare the SNP government’s catastrophic failure to re-mobilise our NHS following the pandemic — with patients paying the price.”

SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray, who earlier this week told ITV’s Representing Border that extending private provision in the Scottish NHS was “something I would be happy to consider,” commented: “The Scottish government is already taking forward a range of immediate and longer-term reform to our NHS, and I will set out my vision for further reform NHS in the coming weeks.

“The fundamentals of Scotland’s NHS will not change — we remain committed to free access to healthcare.”