This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Lanarkshire get £2.6 million for patient services
19/08/2003
Patients in Lanarkshire are to receive £2.6
million for a range of new services.
Health Boards throughout Scotland 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, rtnership for Care, in February.
In Lanarkshire the money is to be targeted at improving
services in mental health, child health, reducing waiting
and cancer.
Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe said:
"I am pleased to confirm that NHS Lanarkshire'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.
"Some of the money will help to expand innovative work
that is already underway. Today I have heard in particular
about one of these projects - an initiative looking at ways
to prevent the falls which injure many older people every
year and often prevent them from living independently.
"And the funding will also help to build on a programme
for better screening and treatment of women with breast
cancer, enabling it to be rolled out to all hospitals in
Lanarkshire. The project has already helped to reduce
waiting times from diagnosis to start of treatment from two
months to twelve days for most patients, by creating a 'one
stop shop' where patients can have their examinations and
test results all on the same day.
"It is by devolving power to frontline staff and
enabling them to make decisions based on local need that we
can see these kind of innovative ideas translated into
practice.
"They are the leaders who are transforming bright ideas
into real benefits for patients through service redesign.
This funding will help them build on this success and I
look forward to seeing further progress.
"We are determined to remodel health service with the
perspective of the patient at the forefront. That is one of
the central themes of our White Paper and is already
evident in the fast access clinics and other redesign
initiatives which remove artificial barriers between
primary and hospital care."
The £26 million is part of the 2003/4 Scottish Budget
monies.
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.