This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Primary care teams to lead NHS reform
25/04/2002
Local primary care teams of GP's, nurses, pharmacists
and health visitors are to have a central role in leading
the transformation of the NHS in Scotland into a 21
st century 'right place, right time care and
intervention system', Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm
announced today.
There will be bigger roles for these local teams in
managing chronic diseases like diabetes, in extending
patient choice, and in tackling Scotland's underlying
health problems.
Outlining the Executive's programme of reform in primary
care in a debate in the Scottish Parliament today, Mr
Chisholm said:
"This summer's decisions on the near 50 per cent
increase in health spending announced after last week's
Budget will see investment linked to evidence of 'right
place, right time care and intervention'. Nowhere will that
be more important than in primary care. The potential for
improvements in both the experience for patients and the
effectiveness of the NHS is huge.
"That is why we intend to back local primary care teams
in taking a central role in leading reform in the NHS.
These professionals - GP's, nurses, pharmacists, dentists,
and health visitors - see patients most often and know
their needs best. Already 90 per cent of the contacts that
patients in Scotland have with the NHS come through local
primary care teams.
"The test for new and existing services will be that if
they
can be delivered locally through GP practices and
health centres then they
should be delivered locally.
"This transformation in services has already begun, but
to speed up the pace of change we must give frontline
health professionals access to the investment and support
they need. We have already decided to invest some £30
million of dedicated additional resources for local
services, to be spent through primary care teams, on extra
staff and equipment.
"Improvements for patients are at the heart of this
programme of investment and reform. I can today announce
that by October there will be a clear timetable in every
Health Board area of the country for the delivery of 48
hour maximum waits to see the right member of the primary
care team. Patients across the country will also have
access to a wider range of services, including minor
surgery, close to home.
"There will be a major drive to cut the bureaucratic NHS
'paper chase' between primary and acute hospital care
through investment in IT and negotiating a new contract
between the NHS and GP's. These measures will reduce delays
for patients, and increase the quality time local health
professionals are able to spend with patients. We are
already investing £50 million over the next 3 years to step
up the use of information technology in the NHS, and this
year added a further £2 million to slash the 10 million
pieces of paper slowing up the organisation of patient
care.
"We will also take steps to ensure that best practice
becomes common practice. There will be a major drive to
encourage collaboration within primary care - for example
through funding for more locum cover so that professionals
in one part of the country can share experiences
systematically with those in other areas.
"This is a practical programme that concentrates on
delivering practical improvements in local communities.
Within the next year, I expect real and tangible progress
in three key areas: the round-the-clock NHS24 telephone
advice line, developing the work of 'health improvement
champions' in every local community, and a bigger role for
nurses and pharmacists in prescribing and managing chronic
disease.
"Above all we must ensure that extra health resources
are being used most effectively. Resources must be spent
where they are needed most and where they can do most good.
Results that move us closer to achieving 'right place,
right time' care and intervention for patients.
"I support further devolution of funding and
decision-making to these local primary care teams and that
is why I want to urge all those in primary care to play a
full and active part in the high-level review of NHS
management and decision-making now underway."