WIREDGOV

Audit shows ‘good progress’ for NHS.

Health Secretary Alex Neil recently pledged to continue protecting Scotland’s NHS following an Audit Scotland report on its performance and long term plans.

As outlined in the budget, the NHS revenue budget has increased by £256 million and is set to rise further, taking health spending above £12 billion for the first time. 

The Audit Scotland report highlights the financial challenges facing the NHS in Scotland and the impact of cuts in the Scottish budget from Westminster, warning “the Scottish Government will need to plan for health spending within an overall reducing budget”.

The report also:

• Recognises the outstanding work happening every day in the NHS, which has resulted in “good progress in a number of areas”, including improving cancer care and reducing healthcare associated infections;
• Highlights the Scottish Government’s “ambitious vision” to enable everyone to live longer, healthier lives at home or in a homely setting by 2020. This vision was created to address the pressures facing the NHS and is supported through a range of initiatives, such as the additional £5 million investment to improve how patients move through services;
• Notes that “All NHS boards broke even against their revenue and capital budgets in 2013/14, for the sixth year in a row”;
• Shows spending on private sector healthcare has also fallen by 6.9 per cent in real terms since 2012/13 and continues to represent less than one per cent of all NHS spending.

Mr Neil recently confirmed the Scottish Government will refresh the strategy for achieving its 2020 vision for the NHS to ensure that it reflects the increasing demands from patients and the new way services will be delivered under health and social care integration.

He said:

“Protecting front-line health services is an absolute priority for this government, and we will do this by increasing the NHS front line budget despite cuts in the overall budget from Westminster.

“The NHS is not perfect, and we’re always seeking to make improvements. I am immensely proud of the care it delivers, day in, day out, to thousands of people right across Scotland.

“This report highlights the pressures the NHS is facing as it continues to treat more people than ever before, who have more long term conditions. Audit Scotland rightly notes that the Scottish Government recognises these issues and has set out a long-term vision for the NHS.

“But we need to make sure our plan develops to meet the changing needs of the people of Scotland and delivers our overall objectives of being a top modern healthcare service that provides quality care, improves the health of the Scottish public and tackles inequalities. 

“By evolving the long-term plan for NHS Scotland, this Government will ensure that Scotland continues to have an NHS that it can be proud of today and in the future.

“The NHS is one of Scotland’s greatest success stories, and I hope stakeholders and politicians from across Scotland can get involved in this process, just as we have invited them to in the past, and we will publish an update to our 2020 vision in the new year.”

Notes To Editors

The Audit Scotland report notes the challenges faced by the NHS in Scotland, but also points out:

• NHS boards’ revenue budgets increased by just over one per cent in real terms in 2013/14.
• The NHS has made good progress in a number of areas, including improving outcomes for people with cancer or heart disease and reducing healthcare-associated infections.
• The Scottish Government has set out an ambitious vision for health and social care to enable everyone to live longer, healthier lives at home or in a homely setting by 2020.
• Spending on private sector healthcare reduced in 2013/14.
• Reductions in spending at a UK level will affect the level of funding available in Scotland. The Scottish Government will need to plan for health spending within an overall reducing budget.
• The NHS has already made improvements in health outcomes in the Scottish population. The 2020 Vision has the potential to make further improvements in health outcomes and the quality of health and social care.