PRESS RELEASE  

May 17th, 2010

Knife impact on the NHS

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has called for tough action on knives after new statistics revealed that over 2,000 bed days were occupied in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde last year as a result of knife attacks.    

The MSP insists this is further evidence that it was time for the Scottish Government to back proposals to introduce mandatory minimum custodial sentences for anyone caught carrying a knife.  

Earlier this month, it was revealed that there were 39 knife-related admissions to Inverclyde Royal last year while it is now estimated that knife crime costs the NHS in Scotland £500 million a year.  

Mr McNeil said: "These figures show that knife attacks impose a massive burden on the NHS, and doing nothing is not an option.  

"It needs to be made clear to criminals that if you carry a knife you will go to jail.

“At a time when NHS and police resources are coming under increasing pressure we simply cannot sustain the financial or human cost of the further inaction."