Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron has expressed concern after learning that cancelled operations in the NHS Highland area rose by nearly 20% in the last year.

Between 2017 and 2018 the number of cancelled operations went up from 1,670 to 1,963.

 Donald was given the figures by Jeane Freeman, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, after local constituents had raised their concerns about the performance of NHS Highland with him.

Donald said: “The figures for NHS Highland are worrying and contrast with the results of other health boards.

“We all know that NHS Highland has had a number of problems to resolve but it is very serious if those issues impact on operations.

“We need to bear in mind that the prospect of an operation can be a time of great anxiety for patients and their families and then to have the operation cancelled can make matters much worse.

“The ability of health authorities to deliver operations in a timely manner should be regarded as the gold standard in measuring their performance.

“I very much hope that the new leadership of the authority will be able to sort this problem out and reverse this worrying trend.”