Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray has announced the Scottish Government's ambitious Operational Improvement Plan, aimed at improving access to treatment, reducing waiting times, and shifting the balance of care from hospitals to primary care.
This comprehensive plan is backed by a substantial £200 million investment, promising significant enhancements in healthcare delivery across Scotland.
The Operational Improvement Plan outlines several critical initiatives, including:
- Increased Appointments and Procedures: The additional £200 million investment will facilitate the creation of 150,000 extra appointments and procedures through enhanced regional and national collaboration.
- Seven-Day Radiology Services: By March 2026, 95% of referrals will be seen within six weeks, thanks to the introduction of a seven-day service in radiology, mobile scanning units, and additional recruitment.
- Hospital at Home Expansion: The Hospital at Home service will expand to at least 2,000 beds by the end of 2026, providing hospital-level care in patients' homes and becoming Scotland's largest hospital.
- Frailty Teams in A&E: Specialist staff will be present in frailty teams in every A&E department by this summer, improving patient flow and care.
- Flow Navigation Centres: These centres will direct patients to the most appropriate services, reducing A&E wait times.
- Primary Care Investment: £10.5 million will be invested in general practice to prevent heart disease and frailty, making it easier for people to access doctors, dentists, optometrists, and pharmacists.
- Digital Services Expansion: The Digital Front Door app will launch in Lanarkshire in December, with a national rollout in 2026, allowing secure access to hospital appointments, communications, and local services.
Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray commented:
“This plan details how the Scottish Government will deliver a more accessible NHS, with reductions to long-waits and the pressures we currently see. It shows how we will use the £21.7 billion health and social care investment in the 2025-26 Budget to deliver significant improvements for patients.
“We want to increase the number of appointments, speed up treatment and make it easier to see a doctor. By better using digital technology, we will embrace innovation and increase efficiencies.
“This plan is ambitious but realistic, and builds on the incredible work of our amazing health and social care staff across our health boards, to deliver real change.”
The plan also focuses on improving community care and digital services. The expansion of Hospital at Home and the introduction of the Digital Front Door app are pivotal steps towards modernising healthcare delivery and ensuring efficient, patient-centred care.
This comprehensive strategy marks a significant step forward in addressing healthcare challenges in Scotland, with a strong emphasis on accessibility, efficiency, and patient care.
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