SNP accused of letting down patients in most deprived parts of Scotland – Daily Record

The SNP has been accused of letting down patients living in the most deprived parts of Scotland during its 14 years in power at Holyrood.

Research shows Scots living in the least well-off neighbourhoods are more likely to suffer from serious illness and less likely to survive a cancer diagnosis.

The figures, collated by Scotland in Union, highlight 14 measures where Scots in the 20 per cent most deprived areas are affected – one for every year the SNP has been in charge of the NHS.

The pro-union campaign wants Nicola Sturgeon to focus on Scotland’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic after Thursday’s election and to ditch plans for an IndyRef2.

But the SNP accused Scotland in Union of being “shameless” for trying to use long-standing deprivation in some parts of the country as a “political tool”.

People in the fifth Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quantiles are three times as likely to be admitted for mental health treatment and less likely to be given a free eye test.

Stroke rates and emergency hospital admissions are higher too, while cervical cancer screening is lower in areas of deprivation.

The gulf in healthcare impacts children too, with young people in poverty more likely to experience dental decay, at higher risk of childhood obesity and less likely to receive the HPV vaccine in school.