An SNP Holyrood candidate has accused opposition figures of doom mongering on the NHS ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May.
Eilidh Munro, the SNP candidate for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said the public debate risks ignoring clear evidence of progress being made across Scotland.
She pointed to a consistent national reduction in waiting lists, with figures showing they have fallen for the sixth month in a row.
Ms Munro also highlighted record funding for health and social care in the current Scottish Budget.
She said that investment is being delivered despite a challenging financial climate which she said has been worsened by UK Government policy.
The Scottish Government has committed almost £22.5 billion to the health portfolio this year.
More than £17.6 billion of that total has been allocated to NHS boards across Scotland.
NHS Highland will receive £1,020 million, an increase from £940 million last year.
Ms Munro said national trends are also being reflected locally.
She said NHS Highland has reduced waiting times, with most patients now being seen within the 12 week target for inpatient and day case treatment.
That represents an improvement of 8% on the previous year.
Ms Munro said.
“This year’s Scottish budget includes record funding of almost £22.5 billion for the health portfolio, building on previous investments.
“This includes more than £17.6 billion for NHS Boards, with NHS Highland receiving £1,020 million, up from £940 million last year.
“Highland residents will benefit from more money for GPs, increased investment in dentistry and community eyecare, the establishment of high street walk in centres, additional support for neurodevelopmental assessments, and more.
“This week, new plans to eliminate cervical cancer and transform gynaecology services have been published as part of a second phase of a Women’s Health Plan.
“This includes additional funding of £2.4 million to tackle gynaecological waiting times.
“I was also pleased to see further funding in the budget for the development of the new Belford Hospital building project, which is now awaiting its updated Outline Business Case being submitted by NHS Highland.
“The continued pressure on our NHS is obvious, and it will not change overnight.
“There are significant challenges facing NHS Highland in particular, given the intricacies of delivering care across such a vast geographical area and facilitating care for patients from other health boards as well.
“However, the work being done by the Scottish Government is having a consistent and positive effect, there is much more work to be done, but we are moving in the right direction.”
Ms Munro said NHS staff deserve recognition rather than political point scoring.
“Our health and social care staff work incredibly hard for our communities, and it’s important to recognise and thank them for their invaluable efforts.”
She criticised what she described as repeated negative rhetoric about the NHS.
“It’s unhelpful for the NHS to be purposefully politicised and for certain individuals to engage in repeated doom mongering.
“There are many genuine issues within our health service that need addressed, but there is also a lot of good progress being made that we need to build on in the next parliamentary session.”
