It states that recruitment and retention problems are leading to NHS Boards having to spend increasing amounts on temporary staff, which due to their higher costs “is putting considerable pressure on NHS boards’ budgets”.
The report also highlights that seven out of eight key waiting time targets were missed, some by as much as eight per cent.
Although the targets have been criticised for heaping pressure on medical staff, the Scottish Conservatives have said that they still paint a picture of an NHS that is struggling to keep up with demand.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Donald Cameron said:
“This is a damning report, and shows the dire state that our NHS is currently in.
“It paints a picture of an NHS in crisis, with short staffing leading to worsening patient care and budgets becoming increasingly under pressure.
“It means that the vast majority of waiting time targets are not just being missed, but our hospitals are failing to get anywhere near them.
“Although we are against a target culture, it demonstrates just how bad the situation is getting.
“It is clear that our NHS workforce is overstretched and struggling to keep up with the demands on our frontline services
“The SNP need to take responsibility for this and start creating a sustainable NHS that provides the right support and is properly staffed.”