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Top medic calls for NHS recruitment boost in Scotland as waiting lists soar
A general view of staff on a NHS hospital ward at Ealing Hospital in London

A TOP medic called for a boost in NHS recruitment in Scotland today, warning that he does not see the government’s backlog targets as practically achievable. 

In April, ministers promised £30 million to tackle waits for care, aiming to deliver an extra 12,000 procedures, 40,000 additional diagnostic tests and 12,000 new appointments.

But new figures show waiting lists in Scotland have instead soared to an all-time high, with over 864,366 patients waiting either for an appointment, tests or hospital treatment by the end of June.

Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “We know that people are waiting too long, but we are determined to provide the necessary support to drive improvements and will continue to target resources to reduce waiting times, particularly for the people waiting longest for treatment.”

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