South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has praised NHS Borders staff in a Scottish Parliamentary debate last week (5 September) celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit at Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

But the local MSP warned that staff and services at NHS Borders are stretched to breaking point and this means too many children in the area are being forced to wait too long for vital care such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service as well paediatric surgery.

Colin Smyth said: “I am immensely proud and grateful for the remarkable contribution this unit and the wider NHS Borders team make every single day to support so many of my constituents, no more so than in these incredibly challenging conditions. 

“Two decades ago, NHS Borders embarked on a journey to enhance healthcare accessibility for the region’s children and families.

“The inception of the Paediatric Ambulatory Care unit – ‘Only for a day’ on 20 May 2003 was a testament to the staff’s commitment to the wellbeing of our youngest citizens.

“Since then, the team have treated thousands of children, without the need for them to be admitted to a ward or to travel out with the region for treatment, making a significant contribution to the innovation of children’s healthcare within the NHS.”

However, Colin Smyth also said the NHS is currently facing its biggest challenges in its 75 year history.

Colin Smyth said: “The average wait time for paediatric surgery outpatients in the Borders is currently 74 weeks- significantly higher than the Scotland wide average of 13 weeks.

“Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service waiting times in the Borders remain some of the poorest in Scotland – with only 31% of young people being seen within 18 weeks, falling appallingly short of the Scottish Government’s legal target of 90% – despite the fact that in 2022 over 40% of referrals were actually rejected.

“These are not just statistics; they are all children and families dealing with the anxiety and the uncertainty that comes with prolonged waiting times.

“Our NHS staff in the Borders and across the country are working tirelessly to deliver the best possible standard of care. But they and the services they provide are stretched to breaking point- and in some cases beyond.

“Too many, including children, are waiting too long. And two years on from the publication of the Scottish Government recovery plan, those waiting times are getting longer. 

“The hard work, the professionalism of our NHS staff is inspiring. But we need to give them the resources and the support they need to provide the high-quality care that our children, families, and communities deserve.”