Livingston by-election 2005

'ID cards won't catch criminals, more police will.' Cllr Angela Constance, 25 th September 2005.

Lothian cancer bed capacity shows 10 per cent reduction

From the Evening News 27 th September 2005

THE number of beds for cancer patients in Lothian has fallen by ten per cent over the last six years, according to figures released today.

The figures show that cancer beds have been cut from 141 to 127 since 1999 while acute beds have decreased by 135, or five per cent.

Critics have attacked the lower capacity levels which they claim leads to longer waits and fewer patients being treated.

But health bosses today insisted that more patients were being treated in the community without the need for beds.

The number of medical paediatrics beds has also fallen by 16, or 24 per cent, during the same period.

There are now 2423 acute beds in NHS Lothian compared with 2558 six years ago. Meanwhile, radiology specialities have declined from 65 to 54.

Angela Constance, SNP candidate in the Livingston by-election, said: "These figures raise big questions for Labour across the Lothians."

But David Bolton, chief operating officer for University Hospitals Division, said: "Many cases that once required a hospital bed can now be treated as day cases."