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Galbraith calls on NHS in Scotland to become most modern health service in Europe
29/05/1998
Scottish Health Minister Sam Galbraith has set the NHS in Scotland a new challenge for the coming year - develop a modern, efficient, inclusive health service which will lead Europe into the next century. Mr Galbraith highlighted three policy developments central to the creation of this new NHS:
- developing communications to bring 'airline-style booking' and the highest customer care to the NHS
- replacing outdated NHS practices and redesigning them around the needs of the patient, such as 'one-stop clinics'
- and substantially reducing waiting lists and times.
In a speech to senior executives at the annual NHS in Scotland Conference in Peebles, Mr Galbraith said:
"Last year I challenged the NHS to change its thinking and leave the internal market behind. We have made remarkable progress on this to restore and modernise the NHS. Now, from the firmest foundation our managers and clinicians have experienced in years, I want them to take the next major step. I want the NHS in Scotland to provide the people of Scotland with the most modern health service in Europe.
"Investing in modern communications will make technology work for patients rather than for accountants. Scottish patients will enjoy 'airline style' booking for hospital appointments by 2002. We have started to redesign age-old practices and replace them with efficient 'one stop clinics'. And we have put £45 million into a far-reaching initiative to drive down waiting times and cut waiting lists permanently.
"Developing the modern, patient-centred NHS is achievable. I believe it is achievable not just in our lifetime - but in the lifetime of this Parliament.
"Waiting lists are the one blemish on our record of success so far. I expressed my concerns when the figures for December 1997 showed a rise. Since then, the Government has provided the extra £45 million and established a Support Force to ensure that waiting lists and times shorten.
"I am determined to reverse this trend, and do so straight away. I want to see a steady decrease in the figures from now on. The Government has provided the resources to achieve this. I am now looking to Chairmen and Chief Executives to work with their clinicians to deliver."
Mr Galbraith outlined a year of achievement and development within the NHS in Scotland including:
- nearly £250 million in extra resources for the NHS in Scotland
- publication of Designed to Care White Paper signalling the end of the internal market and outlining new structure of the NHS in Scotland
- a public health Green Paper on Working Together for a Healthier Scotland to tackle inequalities
- £4 million to provide organisational development support and lay the foundation for new Primary Care Trusts and Local Health Care Co-operatives
- £3 million over next three years for the Designed healthcare Initiative, encouraging the creation of 'one stop clinics'
- long-awaited review of the SHARE formula for distribution of health funding
- near completion of the Chief Medical Officer's long-term Acute Services Review
- GP's connected to a modern communications network
- the first ever human resources strategy for the NHS
- £9.5 million package to underpin the Framework for Mental Health
News Release: 1105/98
May 29, 1998