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Foreword
Few issues are as important to us as our health. There are also few public policy issues as important as the state of the nation's health and the performance of the NHS.
People in Scotland want to be kept informed about developments in these areas. That's why we are publishing this report.
The last annual report on the NHS in Scotland was published in 1999. We have come a long way since then. In the post-devolution era, health is rightly the subject of rigorous scrutiny.
This year has also been a time for reflection as we marked the 60th Anniversary of the National Health Service. We have had fascinating reminders of the unique contributions many people have made to the NHS in Scotland, the enormous benefits that it has brought, and the founding principles which still guide us - universal care, free at the point of delivery.
This Annual Report has been developed with the aim of informing all stakeholders about the performance of NHSScotland during 2007/08 and sets out what has been achieved with the resources at our disposal. The performance of NHSScotland has been put in the context of the health of Scotland's people, with explicit reference to the targets that we have set for NHSScotland. The report is part of the Scottish Government's commitment to the development of a mutual health service, which balances the interests of patients, the public and staff.
I hope you enjoy reading the Annual Report.
Kevin Woods, Director-General Health and Chief Executive, NHSScotland.
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