'FAILURE' by the SNP to deliver on key election promises made in its 'first 100 days plan' are impacting on Inverclyde every day, a Greenock councillor has declared.

Conservative Graeme Brooks says a 'confused situation' regarding the downgrading if intensive care services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital has left a catalogue of unanswered questions.

He has also highlighted missed Covid vaccination targets and says he fears this will have a damaging impact locally.

Meanwhile, the Tories' shadow health secretary, Annie Wells MSP, says the SNP is 'miles off' on delivering on its election campaign promises to the district and the rest of Scotland.

Councillor Brooks said: "What does this failure mean for Inverclyde?

"Our ICU downgrade at IRH is still a confused situation and questions remain unanswered.

"Since the decision was taken for patients who require ongoing multidisciplinary level three care to be transferred [to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital] following admission to IRH, how many additional ICU beds are now available at the QEUH?

"The transfers will be carried out by the Scottish Ambulance Service — how many ambulances have portable ventilators, suction units, drug infusion pumps and transfer bags?

"Who will be the transfer team and does it include a consultant anaesthetist."

Colleague Ms Wells says the SNP is 'miles off target on meeting the pledges in their 100 days document'.

She added: "Once again, there's an enormous gap between what the SNP say and what they do.

"Their failures will have damaging knock-on consequences.

"The delay to publishing an NHS recovery plan is inexcusable.

"That should have been one of the SNP government's top priorities."

Councillor Brooks says the government needs to do more to help the area recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: "Have lockdown restrictions and Covid-19 infections caused further challenges to our many quality bars, restaurants and retailers — businesses that we want people near and far to discover and enjoy?

"Broken promises have real world consequences for Inverclyde's people and businesses, and we need to bounce back from this public health and economic pandemic.

"Failure of the Scottish Government at this time is not acceptable."

The Tele invited Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan to respond but he did not address the IRH ICU situation.

Mr McMillan branded the criticism from Ms Wells 'tired old arguments about a failing SNP government, an SNP government that was resoundingly re-elected just over three months ago'.

He added: "The Scottish Government is delivering record funding of more than £16 billion in 2021-22 to support our NHS through the most challenging period in our lifetimes.

"Earlier this year, staffing levels in Scotland's NHS reached a record high — highlighting our investment as we prioritise the country's recovery from Covid-19.

"After careful and extensive consultation, the Scottish Government are currently finalising the NHS recovery plan which will set out plans to increase inpatient, daycase and outpatient activity.

"We are also taking forward our £320 million National Treatment Centre programme to support recovery."

Mr McMillan said the government had continued to prioritise cancer treatment and that the national cancer recovery plan, backed by £114m, would support equitable access to care for patients.

He said: "The number of planned operations carried out in June was also up 9.6 per cent and the Scottish Government have put a range of measures in place to address delayed discharges, including the recruitment of more staff.

"Scotland has had the best performing core A&E departments in the whole of the UK for more than six years and we have allocated £12m of additional funding to health boards to reduce waiting times and boost staffing levels as they manage challenges including high attendances and staffing pressures."