A patient in intensive care during the Covid 19 pandemic.
By Bill Heaney
Activity in hospitals and other secondary care settings has increased in the last year, but it remains below pre-pandemic levels and is being outpaced by demand.
This pressure is creating operational challenges throughout the whole system and impacting staff, patient experience and patient safety.
There are a range of strategies, plans and policies in place for the future delivery of healthcare, but no overall vision.
The absence of a shared national vision, and a clear strategy to deliver it, makes it more difficult for NHS boards to plan for change.
Stephen Boyle said: “Without change, there is a risk Scotland’s NHS will take up an ever-growing chunk of the Scottish budget. And that means less money for other vital public services.
“To deliver effective reform the Scottish Government needs to lead on the development of a clear national strategy for health and social care.
“It should include investment in measures that address the causes of ill-health, reducing long-term demand on the NHS. And it should put patients at the centre of future services.”
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Dame Jackie Baillie, pictured left, said: “This report lays bare the SNP government’s catastrophic failure to re-mobilise our NHS following the pandemic – with patients paying the price.
“Audit Scotland reveals this government’s lack of ‘overall vision’ for the future delivery of healthcare in Scotland.
“Without a proper plan to support primary and social care, the situation in our NHS will only deteriorate.
“As our A&E departments overheat and almost 1 in 6 Scots languish on waiting lists, the cancellation of all infrastructure projects threatens to fan the flames of the NHS crisis.
“The fact is that the very existence of our NHS is at risk under the SNP.
“Only Scottish Labour has a plan to slash waiting lists by delivering 160,000 more appointments every year, empower clinicians and to put modern technology at the heart of our NHS.
“That’s the change Scotland needs.”
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, right, said: ”This utterly damning report exposes the monumental failings of the SNP’s management of Scotland’s NHS.“As well as having no clear vision for our health service, SNP incompetence has meant there is now no money to progress desperately needed new healthcare facilities across the country.
“Humza Yousaf’s flimsy Covid recovery plan has failed to remobilise frontline services, leading to soaring backlogs and longer and longer waits at A&E departments.
“The disgraced Michael Matheson did not fare any better during his tenure and has left a mess for his successor to clean up.
“Neil Gray must urgently heed the warnings from Audit Scotland and outline a clear vision to support suffering patients and dedicated staff.
“He should start by adopting the bold policies in the Scottish Conservatives’ health paper, which would deliver a modern, efficient and local health service.”
Responding to the Auditor General’s report into Scotland’s NHS which notes that NHS activity in hospitals remains below pre-pandemic levels and is being outpaced by demand, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “Every day I hear from constituents who are waiting in pain for an NHS appointment.
“I am yet to meet a doctor or nurse who thinks Humza Yousaf’s so-called NHS Recovery Plan is up to scratch. The Scottish Government have not delivered the vision or the resources required to tackle the strain our NHS is under. It is no wonder health board deficits are growing.
“The nationalists cannot be trusted to cut waits, expand appointments and deliver care close to home.
“There needs to be urgent investment in clearing waiting lists and delivering preventative care so that small problems don’t spiral.”