Scottish GPs could be asked to perform "minor surgery" to help cut lengthy treatment waiting times, a top doctor has suggested.
According to the latest data, more than 10,000 people in Scotland have been waiting two years - or longer - for treatment, a figure a shocking 100 times higher than those south of the border.
Now, The Times reports, Dr Chris Williams, deputy chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland, has called for GPs to be empowered to perform minor surgery in their practices.
Such a move would remove the need for hospital referrals and go some way to slashing the lengthy waiting times faced by patients.
Dr Williams said the Scottish government's announcement of £13.6million in additional funding for general practices this financial year “should allow some practices to offer these services should they choose to do so”.
The sort of surgeries GPs could perform include cutting out skin lesions, cryotherapy - involving freezing skin lesions with liquid nitrogen - and contraceptive coil fittings.
A Scottish government spokesman told The Times: “We know patients are waiting too long for treatment and we are supporting NHS boards to drive improvements in planned care waiting times.
"We have already invested an additional £30million to drive targeted action at the longest waits.”