SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan has welcomed new figures showing an increase in the number of newly qualified paramedics joining the Scottish Ambulance Service and in GP numbers across Scotland.

Figures released this week show a steep increase in recruitment to the Scottish Ambulance Service with 360 newly qualified paramedics joining the service since 2023. 489 newly qualified paramedics have now joined since 2020, meaning that workforce levels are now at a record high.

Meanwhile, the number of Whole Time Equivalent GPs has increased by 4% over the past year, with the SNP Scottish Government committed to employing an additional 800 GPs by 2027.

The SNP in government is working to make it easier for people to see their GP and has already increased investment in general practice by over £100 million in the last two years to support practices, with a further £15 million in funding announced last week.

Commenting, SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, said:

“We all know the vital role that paramedics and GPs play in our health service and that we rely upon them to help us when we need it most. I want to thank all the paramedics and GPs here in the Western Isles for their continued dedication and hard work.

“This significant increase in the number of newly qualified paramedics and GPs is down to investment made by the SNP in government which has made delivering high-quality sustainable public services, including the NHS, one of its key priorities in government.

“We are seeing the results with 300,000 appointments and procedures expected to be carried out this year. Earlier this month new figures showed that a record number of hip and knee operations were performed by the NHS last year, and now we have record workforce levels in our ambulance service and a rise in GP numbers.

“Whilst other parties continually talk down the NHS, the SNP is getting on with the job by bringing down waiting lists and making it easier for people here in the Western Isles and across the rest of Scotland to get the treatment they need when they need it.”