Wendy Condems £4m Spent on Spin

Paisley North MSP Wendy Alexander has said she is astonished that the local NHS Board has spent £1m since 2007 on press, media and communications staff. The figures were revealed by an FOI request to each Scottish Health Board.

Since 2007 the Greater Glasgow Health Board has spent £959,792 on media and communication staff at a time when staff at the frontline are badly needed.

This year £ 4,075,060 that is being spent by Scottish health boards on press and communications it could pay for 154 nurses on a starting salary. Wendy believes this would be a far better use of NHS resources.

Ms. Alexander said:

“I am astonished that Scottish health boards are spending over £4 million every year on press and communications. I want to see the NHS employing real doctors, not spin doctors and employing nurses, not press officers.

“As a result of the Scottish Government’s cuts, the NHS is planning to cut 4,000 jobs this year including over 1,500 nurses. You can’t take this number of staff out of our hospitals without having a real impact on patient care.

“The £4 million that is being spent on press and communications should be going on the frontline. It could pay the salary and staff costs of over 150 nurses. I am sure that most people would agree that this would be a far better use of resources.

“Why does our local health board need 7 spin doctors? With the Board about to cut hundreds of nurses – NHS press officers should not be a priority. 

“The Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon needs to get a grip, but her own bloated press office is part of the problem. She has her own spin doctor and a team of 9 press officers working for her in the Scottish Government.”