HELENSBURGH'S MSP has accused NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde of ‘a lack of accountability’ after they failed to hold an annual review of their performance this year.

The NHSGGC health board's next annual review is expected in March 2019.

This means it’s been 18 months since the last review was carried out last October and there will be no public meeting this year, which is usually attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Health.

The public meeting, which is usually held in a hospital, gives members of the public the chance to ask questions about the health service.

NHSGGC has failed to meet waiting times targets for key diagnostic tests for conditions such as cancer this year, and more than 6,000 patients waited longer than they should have in September.

On top of the lengthy waits for the tests, patients are being asked to wait for several weeks for the results of those tests.

In addition, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has broken the Treatment Time Guarantee Law more than 12,000 times this year, leaving patients waiting in pain and distress for the treatment they need.

Jackie Baillie said: "I’m angry that the annual review has not been carried out this year.

"It’s clear that the health board need to be accountable for their performance and need a review now more than ever.

"The health board has had a year and a half without a key element of the scrutiny process.

"This lack of accountability is shocking, especially when you consider their poor performance in key areas.

"Patients have experienced long waiting times for routine operations and key diagnostic tests.

"They should have had the opportunity to question the board on these issues to ensure that their concerns are understood.

"It seems like the health board have their heads in the sand and don’t want to hear about the problems.

"It is essential that they have meaningful public engagement, something they aren’t very good at, if our experience of the breast cancer services review was anything to go by.”

A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: "The Scottish Government informs boards of when, and the format, for annual reviews and there have been some changes introduced to the guidance for boards.

"Previously there was a two stage review with a session in the afternoon of the annual review dedicated to a public session.

"The new format means that the public session to report on performance takes place soon after the ministerial annual review process.

"The Cabinet Secretary will conduct her annual review on NHSGGC – which will involve separate meetings with the Area Clinical Forum (ACF), Area Partnership Forum (APF) and local patients and also a session with the board chair and chief executive – on March 11, 2019.

"NHSGGC will hold a separate public session event to report on performance and engage with public and patients later that same month and the date and venue of this event is yet to be finalised.

"The changes apply to all NHS Scotland territorial boards."

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: "The Scottish Government is committed to being open and transparent and provides members of the public with an opportunity to put questions to ministers through the regular public travelling cabinet events.

"There is no change to the core purpose of annual reviews, which is to hold NHS boards to account. We expect boards to hold public Q&A sessions as part of this season of reviews."