John Swinney apologises to patients after damning report on overcrowding in Scots hospitals

dailyrecord.co.uk:

John Swinney has apologised to patients after a damning report revealed the impact of overcrowding in Scots hospitals.The First Minister today promised his "unrelenting focus" was on making sure people "get the care they deserve" from the NHS.But Labour warned the reality for patients was a health service in "permanent crisis on John Swinney’s watch".It comes after a report this week from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) detailed the experiences of health workers forced to deliver "corridor care" as a result of unsafe and undignified conditions in hospitals.

It warned patients being temporarily cared for in corridors or offices risked becoming "normalised" as a result of overcrowding.Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland director, said too often "people are being looked after in areas that are completely inappropriate for patient care".Swinney was pressed on the findings of the report at First Minister's Questions by Anas Sarwar.

The Scottish Labour leader claimed the RCN analysis laid bare the “human cost” of the “incompetence” of the Nationalists.Sarwar said: “The reality is we have a permanent crisis in the NHS on John Swinney’s watch.”He added the report "revealed nurses are delivering care in overcrowded or unsuitable places like corridors, cupboards and even car parks on a daily basis".Sarwar continued: "Staff are caring for multiple patients in a single corridor, unable to access oxygen, cardiac monitors and other lifesaving equipment."Patients are going into cardiac arrest while in a corridor.

Incontinent patients are left with no privacy. And almost 90 per cent of nurses say patient safety is being compromised."Nurses describe flu patients waiting in corridors next to vulnerable patients or having to discuss their