Less than half a per cent of NHS funding is being spent on chronic pain waiting times, despite some patients facing a two year wait for follow-up appointments.
Campaigners say they are “disgusted” just £27,000 of the NHS’s £535 million frontline spending in Scotland is on bringing down waiting times for patients with devastating chronic pain conditions.
Labour Shadow Health Secretary Monica Lennon said the tiny amount is “baffling” given at last 800,000 across Scotland are suffering.
She said: “The target for chronic pain waiting times has never been met since it was introduced, with more than a third of patients having to wait longer than four months to be seen for an initial appointment.
“It’s baffling such a small amount of the £535 million fund to improve waiting times is being spent on chronic pain. Why are resources not being directed to where they’re most needed?”
Campaigners have repeatedly raised the issue, as some patients attempt suicide rather than live in pain.
Last year we revealed 19 patients died waiting for appointments.
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