NHS Grampian given £67m government loan to tackle its overspend
NHS Grampian is being given a Scottish government loan of more than £67m to tackle its overspend.It comes as a review, commissioned by ministers, is taking place on the financial position of the health board.The review should be finalised by the end of next month and will identify areas in which additional savings can be delivered.Health Secretary Neil Gray said the Scottish government was providing more than £14.2bn for NHS boards across Scotland in 2024-25 to support services, which he claimed was a real terms increase of almost 3%.
NHS Grampian's chief executive Adam Coldwells warned last September that the health board needed to reduce spending to tackle an "extremely challenging" financial position.The board said at the time it was facing tens of millions of pounds of ongoing financial pressures.Then in November it declared a "critical incident" which saw some ambulance patients diverted to hospitals outside its area due to demand at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI). It was later stood down.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
‘I'll use private sector to help clear NHS backlog', says Streeting
Wes Streeting has said he will consider leaning more heavily on the private sector as he bids to clear NHS waiting lists. The health secretary said he will not be 'bound by outdated ideological battles' when tackling the crisis in the service, where 7.39 million people are currently waiting to be seen by doctors. He said it would be 'foolish to turn away' from the private healthcare sector, but cautioned that 'we must see it for what it is'. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Streeting said: 'Some ask if using private capacity contradicts NHS principles. Nonsense. What contradicts NHS principles is letting people suffer unnecessarily when capacity exists to treat them. 'The treatment remains free at the point of use – that's what matters. The independent healthcare sector won't affect this principle, and so it would be foolish to turn it away when we so desperately need it in certain specialities. But at the same time, we must see it for what it is.' The health secretary, who previously received treatment for kidney cancer, added: ' Cancer taught me that time is precious. When you're waiting for treatment, every day matters. That's why I won't waste a single day, or a single available appointment slot, in our mission to give patients the care they deserve.' His comments are likely to spark uproar from MPs on the left of the Labour Party, who fiercely opposed expanding the role of the private sector under Jeremy Corbyn. The former Labour leader has previously accused Sir Keir Starmer of 'betraying' the health service for relying more on private care. The government has said partnerships with the private sector under Labour so far have delivered more than 500,000 treatments, with waiting lists having fallen to a two-year low of 7.39 million in April. Darren Grewcock, a security guard, had hip replacement surgery at the Meriden Hospital through a full NHS referral after an injury left him unable to work. He said: 'The X-rays revealed that I had bone-on-bone osteoarthritis on my left hip. I was referred for surgery and given a list of places you can go – which included options in the independent sector. 'Within three days of booking, I had an appointment booked with the consultant. I couldn't believe how quickly he got back to me and the process started. My recovery has been a huge success. I am fitter, stronger, and more mobile than I was at 50." The charity, Patients Association, welcomed the greater role of the private sector in the NHS. Chief executive Rachel Power said: 'As the NHS continues to tackle the backlog, communication and choice must remain central to how care is delivered because patients don't just need treatment, they need to feel informed and empowered.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
GP receptionist advises key phrase to beat 8am doctor appointment scramble
Cuppas have gone cold and breakfasts gone uneaten as we all attempt to time our morning call for an appointment bang on that 8am time slot - but there are secret ways you can beat the system We've all been there, feeling under the weather or concerned for a loved one and yet you have to contend with clock watching as you attempt to time the second perfectly for calling your GP surgery. Beliefs that the closer you get to the elusive 8am slot the better chance you have of connecting have us all hovering over the call button just as the clock turns from 7:59 to 8am on the dot. Now though, those in the know - the actual GP receptionists - have revealed a top secret that most don't know, that can help you avoid the early morning scramble and panic. The medical receptionists are often seen as the grim-faced gatekeepers of overstretched NHS appointments, but often they're the ones who bare the brunt of disgruntled and unwell patients calling to secure some time with a doctor or nurse. Many deem them unhelpful or intrusive, with many patients not keen to give away their health problems to the voice on the phone, and with new official figures suggesting 2.8 million people a month struggle to contact their local GP practice, receptionists are now fighting back, and showing how willing they are to help you find an appointment. One of the ways they're doing this is with top insider tips that might just help. Instead of calling up to wait through massive virtual queues to discover all appointments for the day are gone, they suggest turning up in person. 61 year old Tracey Jetts, a receptionist at Doncaster GP surgery admits you're far "more likely to get an appointment that way." "We may still send you to the pharmacy, or make a non-urgent appointment on another day, as we still have to prioritise patients according to need. But you'll have been able to speak to someone and won't have been hanging around on hold," she told the Daily Mail. Another agreed and said that if you're prepared to wait in person, appointments can free up. She also added that being 'seen' as ill can help. "We're not doctors, but we can tell when someone is struggling." Another tip from the experts was to all in the afternoon, on a Tuesday. Once the initial 8am rush has calmed, it's easier to get through and occasionally cancellations happen or more appointments are released if the doctor has more time. A Cardiff-based GP admitted that once they had a patient who rang in the afternoon for blood tests. He secured an appointment straight away because the surgery had just had a cancellation, but the receptionist admitted had he called in the morning "he'd likely be turned away." Also, avoid Mondays and Fridays if you can - mid-week is much quieter, "especially Tuesdays," said one GP receptionist from Gloucester. And remember, don't raise your voice. Lots of receptionists admitted that some patients believe that pushing harder or more aggressively will help secure an appointment but that simply "won't work." Explaining why you need a doctor is one of the biggest complaints about receptionists but it's a requirement and can help you be seen more quickly. Aware that they're seen as "being nosey", one Welsh receptionist admitted she needs to know the urgency and it also might require a double slot. Also, consider explaining how your health issue is affecting you, not just stating the problem itself. "Saying how something is affecting you, rather than just the problem itself, is often a good way of showing us how urgent it is. So if you're not sleeping well and if you say it's affecting your ability to work, or drive, or look after your children, then that needs to be dealt with quickly. If you're bleeding, that's another red flag, or any problem that has got worse since the doctor last saw you," said Mrs Jetts. Another receptionist recommends the phrase 'this is not normal for me' which highlights a new issue that a GP will want to check out. Children will almost always been seen quickly, but parents should be reminded to make clear things like rashes, fevers not eating or drinking and any sleep issues, and don't be frightened to raise if something feels like an emergency. Often there are only 'emergency' appointments left and one receptionist revealed that she just "needs to hear you say it's an emergency" and it's yours. Make sure not to underplay your symptoms either, 'not making a fuss' can cost you precious time with your GP and the receptionists warned they often get patients like this who think they're doing them a favour. Remember that being sent to your pharmacy isn't a cop-out or 'downgrade' either, sometimes you simply don't need to see a GP. Conditions like UTI s, ear problems, sore throats and insect bites can all be effectively cared for at your local pharmacy - and quickly, too.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Taking difficult decisions on money for healthcare
Last year Agenda for Change trade unions received a 5.5% pay uplift and have recently, unanimously accepted, a two year pay deal of 4.25% in 2025/26 and 3.75% in 2026/27. This pay agreement will benefit almost 170,000 NHS Agenda for Change staff – including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, and porters. This will see a Band 5 nurse at the top of their grade getting a £1,689 pay uplift in 2025/26. I was pleased to reach an agreement with consultants in 2024/25 on a 10.5% uplift which equated to a significant investment of £124.9 million in their pay and reward package. This ensured consultant pay remains competitive with other UK nations. Neil Gray said difficult choices had to be made (Image: PA) As we look to this year's pay settlement, it has been absolutely crucial to ensure that any pay increase is fair, affordable and equitable. I have carefully considered the recommendation of a 4% increase from the independent Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Body (DDRB), which advises on these matters at a UK level. I feel this represents a fair and equitable offer and we are implementing the recommendations immediately to ensure uplifts and backpay are received in July salaries. We have had to make difficult decisions to redirect funding from within the health portfolio. Redirecting funding from patient care is never an easy decision, but I have done so to respect the independent DDRB process and set the Scottish Government on a financially sustainable path. I have been clear I am unable to go beyond the DDRB recommendations. In the coming weeks we look to hold discussions with the BMA to explore non-pay elements which could be included in this year's deal. With average CPI inflation forecast to run at 2% over the course of the 2025/26 financial year, a 4% increase means they will receive an above inflation increase which will see consultants raises of between £4,286 and £5,695, meaning at the top of their scale, a consultant will earn a basic pay of £148,064. For specialty doctors, this increase would see their wage rise by between £2,468 and £3,845, with those at the top of their grade earning a basic salary of nearly £100,000. As I travel up and down the country and meet staff working in our hospitals and health centres, I see first-hand the outstanding work staff in our health service are undertaking and I am extremely grateful for their contribution. READ MORE: Neil Gray faces fresh questions over 'limogate' row 'We must tackle racist violence' - Swinney after Police Scotland officers sent to NI However, I also hear about the demands staff are dealing with and impact this can have on morale and wellbeing. We know that teams are facing pressure right across the NHS – from porters to consultants - and I want staff to know; we hear your concerns and we are determined to take action and ensure we are directing resources to the right places to relieve pressure on the system. In recent weeks we announced the allocation of £106 million to tackle waiting times. This investment will help clear the longest waits and I hope demonstrate to staff that we are taking measures to clear the backlog of treatment facing teams currently. The investment is part of the £200 million announced as part of the Programme for Government to build capacity, tackle delayed discharge and improve patient flow through hospitals. We are determined to do more on recruitment - a new project called the Future Medical Workforce will seek to explore issues of workforce planning. This will allow us to hear directly from doctors in order to make improvements to the medical education pipeline, ensuring we can continue to deliver the medical workforce Scotland needs. I have continued to invest significantly in training as we want to have the best qualified people working in our NHS. There are a record high number of Medical & Dental Consultants in Scotland, including Directors. Under this government, the number of Consultants has increased by 70% and our NHS workforce has seen 12 consecutive years of growth. I recognise the challenges that the Health Service faces and I am determined to do more, but I strongly believe that this must be done in a way that treats all staff with fairness and equity. Neil Gray is the Health Secretary and MSP for Airdrie & Shotts
