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Patient 'removed' to meet targets Patient 'removed' to meet targets
(10 minutes later)
A plastic surgeon has taken patients off his waiting list to help meet Scottish Government targets.A plastic surgeon has taken patients off his waiting list to help meet Scottish Government targets.
NHS Tayside consultant Alex Munnoch said bosses told him to remove names as a "simple solution" to people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.NHS Tayside consultant Alex Munnoch said bosses told him to remove names as a "simple solution" to people waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment.
The case has caused a political row after being raised at First Minister's Question Time in Holyrood.The case has caused a political row after being raised at First Minister's Question Time in Holyrood.
Lib Dem Leader Nicol Stephen produced a letter from the surgeon to one patient informing her of the "bad news".Lib Dem Leader Nicol Stephen produced a letter from the surgeon to one patient informing her of the "bad news".
The case came after Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday that NHS boards were working to meet waiting targets.The case came after Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday that NHS boards were working to meet waiting targets.
Future treatmentFuture treatment
According to the statistics, on 31 December 2007 no patient had waited more than 18 weeks for a first outpatient consultation following a GP referral and no patient had waited more than 18 weeks for inpatient or day case treatment.According to the statistics, on 31 December 2007 no patient had waited more than 18 weeks for a first outpatient consultation following a GP referral and no patient had waited more than 18 weeks for inpatient or day case treatment.
First Minister Alex Salmond said he would look into the case highlighted by Mr Stephen.First Minister Alex Salmond said he would look into the case highlighted by Mr Stephen.
In the letter, Mr Munnoch, based at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, stated that a "significant" number of patients were in breach of the 18-week target.In the letter, Mr Munnoch, based at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, stated that a "significant" number of patients were in breach of the 18-week target.
He also explained that there was no funding to pay for the liposuction treatment, which the patient, who was not from the Tayside area, was due to receive for medical reasons.
He told his patient that she might wish to contact her local MSP, adding: "I will continue to keep your details with a view to trying to offer you surgery at some point in the future, with or without management's consent."He told his patient that she might wish to contact her local MSP, adding: "I will continue to keep your details with a view to trying to offer you surgery at some point in the future, with or without management's consent."
The patient, who was due to receive liposuction for medical reasons, was not from the Tayside area.