South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has used a general question session in the Scottish Parliament to raise long waiting times for hernia operations with NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

The local MSP asked the Scottish Government “when it last discussed waiting times for hernia operations with NHS Dumfries and Galloway”.

The Health Secretary Michael Matheson said the Scottish Government remained “committed to reducing waiting times and improving access to services, including for general surgery”.

Colin Smyth said: “I have a constituent in Dumfries and Galloway who, having been diagnosed with a double hernia, has been waiting for treatment for four years.

“Another person’s hernia operation in August 2022 was cancelled 10 minutes before they were due to go into theatre.

“Because of cancellations, they are still waiting.

“Another person inquired two months ago about how long they would need to wait and was told by the local hospital that it had no idea and was still looking at referrals from last June. I could go on.

“Waiting lists for hernia operations in my region have risen by 175 per cent in the past five years, and a year is now the median wait.

“Does the cabinet secretary think that that is acceptable? If not, will he tell my constituents when he will bring down those waiting times? Frankly, they are waiting far too long.”

Statistics obtained by a Scottish Labour FOI have shown that in several health boards, Hernia patients have had to wait for hundreds of days for treatment.

In four health boards – NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Grampian and NHS Lothian – the median wait for an inguinal hernia repair stood at over a year in 2023/24.

Since 2018/19, the figures for median waits for an inguinal hernia repair in Dumfries and Galloway has risen by 175 per cent, from 144 to 396 days.

Speaking after the session, Colin Smyth added: “Waits lasting up to a year are now the norm and no action has been taken to end this dangerous situation.

“This cannot go on.

“NHS staff are working tirelessly to treat and support patients but they are being failed by this missing in action SNP government.”