BBC Question Time's Fiona Bruce savages SNP record as she slams 'worse' NHS waiting times
SNP's Kate Forbes attack on Labour and Conservatives backfired spectacularly as she was challenged about her own party's NHS records.
BBC Question Time host Fiona Bruce put SNP Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes in a tight spot as she challenged her party's record with the NHS.
Ms Forbes was addressing questions on whether Scotland could see healthcare become a two-tier system, accusing both Labour and Conservatives of considerable shortfalls in recent years.
However, Ms Bruce quickly pointed out health remains a devolved issue – challenging the SNP politician on dire health figures across the nation.
The BBC presenter said: "You say all roads lead back to Westminster. Health, as I'm sure you all here will know, is devolved to Scotland.
"You're talking about austerity which, according to you, is an issue across the United Kingdom.
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"Why therefore is it that the average time to start chemotherapy in England is 48 days, it's 65 in Scotland.
"Why is it, in Scotland, there are 7,000 people who waited more than two years for treatment and in England, just over 200 waited two years?"
Ms Forbers immediately said her party doesn't "want anybody to be waiting," which prompted Ms Bruce to ask: "Why is it worse here?
"There are things that are better here, I can see. But why are those things worse than they are in England?"
The SNP politician pointed out not all NHS Scotland figures are negative but insisted the government is committed to improving.
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Ms Forbes said: "We don't want anybody to be waiting any longer. Our A&E is also the best performing across the UK.
"We have to ensure that the funding is going in there and there's no doubt, if you look at the figures, that under the SNP investment in our NHS has doubled. We also have record staffing."
The BBC Question Time presenter cut in again: "So why are these results so bad?"
The SNP deputy first minister ignored the interruption and continued: "The key here is to ensure that the funding is going to the right places and we have a plan in terms of reducing those waiting lists.
"But again, I go back, we're on a trajectory right now to improve those times."
