Evening Times
THE NUMBER of staffed beds in Glasgow hospitals has fallen by more than 20% according to statistics revealed today.
Scottish Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie obtained official figures from Parliament which show the reduction across all specialities in the NHS.
The figures show that in 1998 hospitals in Greater Glasgow had 8059 staffed beds, which had fallen to 6181 in 2004 - a reduction of 23%.
Across Scotland the fall was more than 7000 beds, down 20% from 37,998 to 30,071.
Ms Leckie, the SSP health spokeswoman, said that the figures showed why the public was outraged over the state of the NHS in Scotland .
She said: "This is clear evidence that the NHS is creaking at the seams."
"Across all specialities between 1998 and 2004 there has been a 20% cut in average available staffed beds.
"These figures explain why the public and NHS staff are up in arms at further cuts.
"With a 20% cut in available hospital beds and up to a third in some specialities, it is not an understatement to say that this is the biggest crisis the NHS has ever faced."
