Devastating figures that came out this week reveal that people can be waiting up to two years for audiology assessments at NHS Grampian. The chief executive, Adam Coldwells, has laid the blame for that squarely at the door of the Government, which underfunds the service and fails to properly workforce plan. Precisely how does the Government intend to drive those waiting times down, and when will the people of the north-east see results?

The First Minister:

W hen it comes to long waits, I reiterate what I have already said, which is that it is not acceptable for anybody to wait for far too long.

We are working hard to recover our NHS services. In 2024-25, NHS front-line boards will receive an increased investment of almost £558 million, which is a real-terms increase of almost 3 per cent, and NHS Grampian will have a £46.6 million increase in investment. That is a decision that this Government has been proud to take. In stark contrast to the Conservatives in England, we are investing in our NHS at a time when they are choosing tax cuts for the wealthy over investment in public services.