SNP GOVERNMENT DELIVERING ON HEALTH

SNP GOVERNMENT DELIVERING ON HEALTH

ABERDEEN’S DRUG TREATMENT WAITING TIMES FALL FROM 500 TO 3!

Aberdeen North SNP MSP Brian Adam has welcomed the release of the latest Drug Treatment Waiting Times figures for Scotland for July to September 2009, which show substantial improvements in Aberdeen.

The number of people still waiting for an appointment for assessment for more than 26 weeks has fallen from 117 in July to just 3 in the latest quarter. This figure compares with a staggering 500 waiting at the beginning of 2008.

Commenting Mr Adam said:

“This is an incredible improvement by Aberdeen and all those involved deserve praise for their efforts. It demonstrates that the efforts to tackle the issue in Aberdeen City have achieved fantastic results.

"This welcome improvement for drug treatment in Aberdeen shows a huge turnaround in the numbers requiring treatment.

"The hard work to tackle this issue in Aberdeen is finally achieving results although much work requires to be done.

“While drug treatment times grew longer and longer under the previous administration the SNP Government is working hard with Aberdeen on this issue. NHS Grampian, Aberdeen Council and the Alcohol and Drug Action Team should all be congratulated on reducing waiting times."