SCOTTISH Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley is demanding for a full review into NHS services across the country to ensure health needs are being met.

The MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife wasn't shocked to hear that NHS Fife Chiefs are struggling to meet this year's financial targets, despite a range of cuts and service changes.

Health chiefs announced that almost £10 million of savings would be required by March, after having already been £4.7 million over budget by July.

Mr Rowley said: "There's massive pressure on the NHS budget right now. I've questioned their capacity to meet the growing needs of the people of Fife for a while now. The board announced £30 million of cuts in May and they say they are now struggling to find money. I'm not at all surprised. There's real shortages just now. We don't have enough consultants or GPs, meaning there's more locum doctors needed and we're flying doctors in through private companies. How can you make those cuts when the pressure on NHS Fife and the staff is already immense?

The MSP was quick to support the staff, who he believes are the 'backbone' of NHS Fife.

He added: "The staff are the backbone and the greatest asset the NHS Fife have. It's not acceptable. I've repeatedly called for a review to find out what the health needs of the regions are. We need to identify exactly what the resource requirements are, and then making an argument from there. We need to establish the facts before we know what is needed to help the health needs of the Fife people."

He has written to Paul Hawkins, NHS Fife Chief Executive, requesting a meeting to discuss the issues.

Mr Hawkins is hopeful NHS Fife will be able to return to financial balance 'over a three year period'.

He said: “NHS Fife continues to deliver improvements in clinical standards and patient care, despite financial challenges. We have established a Transformation Programme and are working closely with the Scottish Government. This will help ensure we make the best use of our resources and we anticipate a return to financial balance over a three year period. There are a number of pressures on our budget, including inefficiencies in the way medicines are prescribed, however, as part of our Transformation Programme we have established an Efficient Prescribing Group, which is looking at ways to reduce waste whilst maintaining the safety and effectiveness of the medicines patients receive.

Mr Hawkins added: “NHS Fife has developed a Clinical Strategy which provides a vision for the delivery of healthcare services over the next five years and beyond and we are currently in a period of public consultation over our plans. The Clinical Strategy is designed to respond to the changing needs of Fife’s communities; the population is living longer, often with more complex health needs, and will be in line with the Scottish Government’s National Clinical Strategy.”