This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New deal for Scottish patients
15/12/2004
The biggest and most comprehensive investment package
ever seen in the Scottish NHS to improve and speed up
treatment for patients was announced today.
Speaking in Parliament, Health Minister Andy Kerr
said:
"The NHS does a great job for the people of Scotland -
and in many aspects offers patients the best service in the
UK.
"But patients rightly expect improvements. It is my job
to deliver them and that's what I'm going to do.
"Over the next three years, there will be significant
change to get rid of excessively long waits for good, make
the service much more focussed on patients and extend
choice - fair to all and personal to each.
"Not so long ago, patients were waiting up to 18 months
for inpatient/day case treatment. We've cut that down to 12
and now nine months reducing to six months by the end of
next year.
"We have met all our previous targets and we will meet
those we have set for the end of 2005. Because of that we
can now go further:
"For all procedures, by the end of 2007 no-one will wait
more than 18 weeks from GP referral to an outpatient
appointment. For inpatient and day cases no-one will wait
more than 18 weeks from diagnosis to treatment. Together
these will benefit an estimated 270,000 patients a
year."
Mr Kerr also announced new specific targets
By the end of 2007 no patient will wait longer than:
- 18 weeks for cataract surgery which will benefit
20,000 people a year.
- 16 weeks from GP referral through a rapid access
chest pain clinic to cardiac intervention.
- four hours from arrival to discharge in an Accident
and Emergency Unit.
- 24 hours for hip surgery after a fracture.
Mr Kerr said:
"What matters to me are patients and their
priorities.
"We have made very good progress to tackling the three
big killers
in Scotland - cancer, heart disease and stroke. But we
have to do more.
"We will do more for those people having to endure
gradual loss of sight. And for people having to wait too
long in A and E departments.
"Too many of us have the worry of waiting for scans and
other tests just to find out what is wrong.
"Accordingly, in spring next year we will set new
specific standards for diagnostic tests - ahead of any
other part of the UK.
"Finally, we will also abolish Availability Status Codes
where some patients are currently excluded from guarantees
for certain reasons.
"We will increase the capacity in diagnostics and the
other priorities - both in-house in the NHS and from the
private sector for the NHS.
"That is a powerful combination which will deliver for
patients the additional capacity we need. However, in any
new contracts with the independent sector, we will ensure
that there are strict conditions to ensure the NHS is not
disadvantaged and clinical standards are guaranteed. .
Today's announcement gives detail to overall sums
announced in the Scottish Budget in September where NHS
planned spending is set to rise from £7.9 billion in
2004/05 to £10 billion by 2007/08.
Improvements will be delivered by:
- New investment in the Golden
Jubilee National Hospital providing by the end of 2007
an additional 10,000 procedures a year taking the total
to 26,000 a year
- An additional £125 million for
NHS medical equipment over the next 3 years
- Increased resources of up to £12
million for facilities and capacity to treat coronary
heart disease
- New arrangements with the
independent sector for new diagnostic and treatment
centres and mobile scanning units.
- Longer term contracts with the independent sector
worth up to £15 million a year to offer quicker
treatment for NHS patients