A SCOTTISH TORY bid to force Health Secretary Neil Gray to resign has failed at Holyrood.
The party tabled an amendment to a motion proposed by Scottish Labour on the NHS workforce in order to heap more pressure on the SNP minister.
Gray has been battling with winter pressures, poor performance in the NHS in recent months and criticism over taking Government-owned cars to football games, but has retained the confidence of the First Minister.
The amendment fell by 51 votes to 68 with one abstention, while the original motion was defeated by 61 votes to 53 with seven abstentions.
Tory health spokesperson Sandesh Gulhane said: “It is time for change – the SNP has had 18 years and they have failed.
“Patients are suffering, staff are burned out and our NHS is on life support.
“Neil Gray is not the answer, he is not the leader that Scotland’s health service deserves.
“Today, we urge Neil Gray to do the right thing and resign as Health Secretary.”
The Tory MSP also said social care minister Maree Todd should be “held accountable” for the scrapping of the National Care Service.
“I will not be holding my breath that this SNP Government will do the right thing,” Gulhane added.
The Health Secretary did not directly address the calls for his resignation, but admitted “services are struggling”.
He added: “People are waiting too long for treatment and there have been periods of real crisis in recent weeks linked to the exceptionally high flu prevalence that we have seen.
“We must also acknowledge that the sustained and significant pressure that the system has faced and continues to face places real pressure on staff.
“Change, clearly, is needed.”
Previously, the First Minister has said he retains confidence in Gray and that he will remain in post.
