Audit Scotland - NHS in Scotland managed finances well in 2012/13 but there are growing signs of pressure
11 Oct 2013 11:58 AM
The NHS in Scotland managed its finances well in 2012/13 but needs to focus more on longterm financial planning and sustainability to make the changes needed to meet increasing demands. In 2012/13, pressures on the NHS’ capacity became more apparent and the health service spent more on short-term measures to deal with them.
An Audit Scotland report published yesterday, NHS financial performance 2012/13, comments on the health service's management of the £10.9 billion it spent in 2012/13, and on its future plans.
The report says:
- All NHS boards met their annual financial targets in 2012/13, for the fifth consecutive year, and the service had a small overall surplus of £16.9 million.
- Demands on healthcare are rising and signs of pressure on the NHS were apparent. Some boards missed waiting times targets; vacancies for hospital doctors, nurses and midwives increased; and spending on bank and agency staff and private health care rose.
- Because boards have to meet annual financial targets, their focus can be on breaking even each year. They need to focus more on long-term financial planning to change the way they deliver services to meet the challenges of population changes, technology advances and decreasing budgets.
Click here for full press release