More people in Fife are being carted off to other parts of Scotland for operations than are receiving procedures in the kingdom itself, new figures show.
Some 24,639 patients in Fife were referred to other health boards for surgery in 2014-15, compared with 20,304 procedures performed on patch, according to data obtained by the Liberal Democrats.
The figures, which show that Fife sends significantly more patients out-of-area than any other health board, shine a light on the strain the NHS and its staff are under amid insufficient resources, said Lib Dem health spokesman Jim Hume.
NHS Fife warned the figures may not be comparable with other boards because they refer to both inpatient and outpatient procedures.
Mr Hume said: “There can sometimes be a good reason why a patient is referred outside their local health board for treatment. But these numbers are astounding.
“SNP ministers claim they want patients to receive treatment as close to where they live as possible.
“But these figures show tens of thousands of patients have had to travel miles for their operations, after which they’ll have to make their way back home again. That is not convenient nor for many is it comfortable.”
Mr Hume said the health service has been left “under-resourced and overstretched” by the SNP Government.
“They have no credibility when it comes to supporting hard-working staff on the ground and it’s time they faced up to the fact they are failing to deliver,” he added.