This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Grampian NHS funding
15/08/2003
NHS Grampian is to receive £2.292 million to develop a
range of innovative services for patients in its area.
All NHS boards were asked to submit plans for
redesigning and modernising services for their share of a
£26 million fund outlined at the launch of the White
Paper, Partnership for Care, in February this year.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm also announced that
£70,000 worth of bids for additional funding made available
by the Executive to support implementation of the
CHD/Stroke Strategy had been successful.
The Minister took the opportunity to announce £770,000
of funding for a homelessness project in Aberdeen, which
will aim to provide a comprehensive clinical and social
service for the city's rough sleepers.
Mr Chisholm said:
"I am pleased to confirm that NHS Grampian's plans have
been approved. It means that the Board can now go ahead and
develop detailed proposals which will make a big difference
for patients.
"The central themes of the White Paper are
decentralisation and devolution of power to frontline staff
so that they can improve services for patients.
"They are the leaders who are transforming bright ideas
into good practice through service redesign. This funding
will help them do a lot more and they will have additional
support from the Centre for Change and Innovation.
"We are determined to remodel health services with the
perspective of the patient at the forefront. That
transformation is already evident in one stop and fast
access clinics and other redesign initiatives which remove
artificial barriers between primary and hospital care.
"I have already seen examples of how this extra funding
could be put into use, such as the redesigned Accident and
Emergency and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) facilities at
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. This funding will assist the
Board in developing further projects in the Grampian
area."
The successful bids for funding from the CHD/Stroke
strategy for Grampian NHS Board are:
- £30,000 to help data collection as part of setting
up a national database for stroke
- £17,000 to provide a weight relieved gait trainer
to assist walking rehabilitation after stroke
- £30,000 to expand the neurovascular clinic in the
acute stroke unit at Foresterhill to achieve nationally
agreed waiting time targets
The Minister said:
"Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease are two of the
biggest killers in Scotland and the prevention and
treatment of both conditions is a key priority for the
Scottish Executive.
"The funds allocated today should lead to major
improvements in services and support NHS Grampian's bid to
cut patient waiting times for cardiovascular
procedures."
Speaking about the homelessness project, the Minister
said:
"Homeless people have the same right to quality health
care as those that are housed. By acting together, we can
make this a reality and it's encouraging to see Grampian
NHS Board moving forward in such a way and setting and I
hope that other Boards will follow their example.
"This particular project will address the needs of
homeless people through the provision of a holistic health
care service. During a period of homelessness, until such
time as patients are able to register with a mainstream
general practice, this project will provide a comprehensive
clinical and social service and make access to appropriate
health care that little bit easier for homeless
people."
The £26m is part of the 2003/4 Scottish Budget monies.
Health boards were asked to submit robust change and
innovation plans for a share calculated on the same basis
as their ordinary revenue budgets.
The Centre for Change and Innovation was established by
the Health Department in November last year to promote
innovative practice across NHSScotland. Its current work
includes redesign of outpatient services, improving access
to primary care, and supporting a range of pilot projects
in health boards.
Details on individual projects can be obtained from the
NHS Grampian press office on 01224 554094.