The Scottish first minister, Humza Yousaf, has announced new annual funding to the tune of £100m in a bid to drastically cut waiting lists across NHS Scotland.
The investment will be delivered in each of the next three years and will help clinicians clear approximately 100,000 inpatient and day-cases off Scotland’s waiting lists.
The funding is still beholden to the Scottish budget process however, and still requires the necessary approvals from parliament.
The Scottish Government has indicated its intention to present the draft budget for 2024/25 to parliament on Tuesday 19 December 2023.
It is said the money will give NHS boards a more informed approach as they gear up to optimise capacity and accelerate treatments.
Here is just some of what @HumzaYousaf has announced at #SNP23:
— The SNP (@theSNP) October 17, 2023
🏡 Freezing council tax next year
🏥 £300 million to alleviate NHS waiting lists
👷♀️ £500 million to create renewable jobs
🎭 £100 million to double Scotland's arts and culture budget pic.twitter.com/Z8Y6Cxds5K
Humza Yousaf said: “This investment will allow us to maximise capacity, build greater resilience into the system and deliver year-on-year reductions in the number of patients who have waited too long for treatment.”
He continued: “We will work closely with NHS Boards and stakeholders on a number of key actions which will see patients treated as quickly as possible.”
The news comes shortly after the Scottish Government launched a new awareness campaign designed to alleviate pressure on the NHS ahead of another anticipated busy winter.
The Right Care Right Place initiative, which has been rolled out earlier than in previous years, will signpost self-help guides on the NHS website, advise people to seek advice from their local pharmacy, or phone NHS 111. Patients should only present to A&E in genuine emergencies.
The Scottish Government’s winter plan is still expected before the end of this month.
Image credit: iStock
