Brian Whittle MSP has challenged the Scottish Government to invest more money in the prevention of heart disease in Scotland.
The call came as the British Heart Foundation in Scotland published the results of a freedom of information request showing huge differences in waiting times for echocardiogram tests across different health boards.
During First Minister’s Questions, Brian said that the Scottish Government has spent around £1million since 2014 to deliver its heart disease improvement plan. That contrasts with a bill of around £4.8 billion for diagnosis and treatment of heart disease by the NHS over the same period.
Brian, who this week also spoke for the Scottish Conservatives in a British Heart Foundation hustings to debate the future of heart disease treatment in Scotland, argued that there was a chronic underfunding for the early diagnosis and prevention of heart disease.
The South Scotland MSP has long called for a greater investment in preventing illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes with the aim of reducing the long-term burden on the NHS and helping people live longer, healthier lives.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Scotland, but efforts to reduce the number of cases and improve outcomes for patients get a fraction of the funding of some other illnesses.
I was pleased to be able to raise this issue with the First Minister in the same week as I discussed the British Heart Foundation Scotland’s new plan for heart disease case.
When preventable illnesses are putting such a strain on the NHS, it makes sense to put more effort into reducing the number of cases. That means investing to encourage healthier lifestyles and giving people more support to eat well and be active.”
