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The Herald Scotland
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Government urged to improve NHS governance to deliver reforms
It recommended that the nation's health system must be reformed to remain affordable and sustainable and said that better governance was key to achieving this. The report states that "it is not yet clear" that NHS Scotland's governance arrangements are designed to facilitate and deliver "the extent and pace of reform that must be achieved in the coming years". It notes there is scope for the current Blueprint for Good Governance to be "strengthened" and "refreshed". Audit Scotland has also urged the Government to make better use of non-executive directors to provide more scrutiny of the system. READ MORE: 'One in nine' Scots on NHS waiting list as delays hit record Scottish GP warns of over reliance on popular weight loss drugs Mounjaro: Scottish woman on highs and lows of weight loss drug They warned the planning and governance of healthcare in Scotland is becoming increasingly complex, limiting the ability of NHS boards to drive reform. Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: 'The delivery of NHS services must be reformed for Scotland's health service to remain affordable and sustainable. 'NHS Scotland's governance arrangements are key to delivering that reform, but they need to be strengthened. 'The planning of healthcare in Scotland is becoming more complex and the Scottish Government needs to ensure lines of accountability and decision-making are clear.' NHS Scotland consists of 22 boards, including 14 health boards, with oversight lying with the Scottish Government. Audit Scotland said the mix of local, regional and national partners in the system made decision-making and accountability difficult. The Scottish Government has introduced a new planning framework, while a fresh national strategy is due this year. The watchdog's report said this will provide clarity for the NHS, while helping boards to work better together to deliver reform. But it warned it will also be challenging to implement. It said that the blueprint for good governance created with the Scottish Government had been well-received, but that there was scope for it to be strengthened in a way that more clearly set out how governance would be adapted to deliver reform. The Scottish Conservatives have said the report from Audit Scotland acts as "proof" the NHS is being mismanaged by the SNP. Scottish Conservative's health spokesperson Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: 'This damning report is proof that our health service is being chronically mismanaged by the SNP. 'Successive nationalist health secretaries, including Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon, have decimated our NHS and pushed hardworking staff to breaking point. 'The report makes clear the SNP are an obstacle to the change that's so desperately needed to make our health service more effective. That includes too much money being wasted on bureaucracy, which should be spent on the frontline. 'We need to modernise our NHS to make best use of staff time and free up capacity to support and treat patients. 'That's why the Scottish Conservatives have proposed bold and ambitious plans including an app which will put power in the hands of patients and introducing 'Super Saturdays' to reduce waiting times.' Meanwhile, Scottish Labour has said the SNP's "overcrowded and bureaucratic" structure is "hindering accountability". Scottish Labour's Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said 'Scotland's NHS is at breaking point and patients and staff across Scotland are suffering the consequences of the SNP's failure. 'The status quo won't cut it, but the SNP's overcrowded and bureaucratic structures are standing in the way of modernisation and hindering accountability. 'A Scottish Labour government will cut the number of health boards, reduce bureaucracy and red tape, improve accountability, put patients and frontline services first, and build an NHS that is truly fit for the future.' Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray said: 'I acknowledge the Auditor General's spotlight report on governance in the NHS in Scotland. 'This supports the approach we have already set out for protecting, strengthening and renewing our National Health Service. "The recently published Operational Improvement Plan that focuses on the four key areas of improving access to treatment; shifting the balance of care; digital and technological innovation; and prevention, along with the forthcoming publication of a population health framework and a health and social care service renewal framework in June, establishes a clear path. 'In order to ensure this modernisation and renewal of our services is supported, good governance will be key and the Scottish Government will work closely with NHS Boards to ensure we deliver on our ambitions.'
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
SNP chiefs blasted as around one in six Scots languishing on NHS waiting lists, shocking stats reveal
SNP chiefs were savaged by rivals as the backlog showed no signs of easing SICK OF WAITING SNP chiefs blasted as around one in six Scots languishing on NHS waiting lists, shocking stats reveal Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AROUND one in six Scots are languishing on NHS waiting lists - more than double since the start of the pandemic five years ago. Shocking figures reveal 860,925 are hanging on for crucial diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT and MRI scans, as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 4 860,925 Scots are hanging on for crucial diagnostic tests Credit: Alamy 4 The rise comes despite the Scottish Government vowing to cut waits Credit: PA 4 Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie blasted the SNP's 'hollow promises' Credit: Alamy 4 Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the backlog had 'spiralled out of control' Credit: Alamy SNP chiefs were savaged by rivals as the backlog showed no signs of easing, despite pledges from First Minister John Swinney, Nicola Sturgeon and a string of health secretaries that they would fix the NHS. Scottish Labour's health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: 'The SNP promised to reduce waiting times yet these damning figures show how hollow those promises were.' Scottish Tory counterpart Dr Sandesh Gulhane weighed in: 'After nearly two decades of chronic SNP mismanagement, the backlog in our NHS has spiralled out of control. 'Ministers should be ashamed.' Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called the long waits 'agonising for patients'. He added: 'This SNP government have failed our hardworking NHS staff, who haven't got the beds, safe staffing and resources they desperately need.' In total, 559,742 Scots are waiting for an outpatient appointment, with 158,436 in line for inpatient treatment. A further 142,747 need diagnostic tests. The total is significantly higher than the 419,516 on the same lists on March 31, 2020 — just days into the Covid lockdown. The numbers languishing have increased since then, hitting 600,000 in June 2021, before rising to 700,000 in March 2022. They hit a record high in June last year just after John Swinney replaced Humza Yousaf in Bute House, with 868,924 forced to wait for tests or appointments. The rise comes despite the Scottish Government vowing to cut waits and increase treatment slots in its August 2021 NHS Recovery plan. NHS patients lined up in A&E corridor However that was ditched by the First Minister, who replaced it with a so-called operational improvement plan, revealed by Health Secretary Neil Gray in March but panned as a rehash by critics. Dr Alan Robertson, chair of BMA Scotland's consultant committee, said Covid had worsened already major problems within the NHS. He said: 'The mismatch between capacity and resources means that waiting times have been growing as a result of years of underinvestment and a failure to plan for the future. There is a major question mark over how extra capacity can be delivered when there are not enough consultants to keep up with current demand. 'We need urgent action to tackle the workforce crisis. Joint boss role 'risk' BY CONOR MATCHETT CIVIL servants are marking their own homework on Scotland's health service performance, a damning new report has said. Audit Scotland criticised the structure of the NHS, warning there was a 'risk arising' from senior officials both controlling it and holding it accountable. The chief executive of NHS Scotland, Caroline Lamb, is also the director-general of health and social care within the Scottish Government. Ms Lamb is responsible for overseeing the health service north of the border, which includes its 14 boards. The report warns: 'There are weaknesses within the scrutiny and assurance processes at the Scottish Government level. 'There is a risk arising from the combined role of director-general for health and social care and the chief executive of NHS Scotland. This results in dual responsibility for setting the strategic and operational direction of NHS Scotland and holding the NHS to account.' Auditor General Stephen Boyle added: 'The Scottish Government needs to ensure lines of accountability and decision-making are clear.' Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: 'The report makes clear the SNP are an obstacle to the change that is desperately needed.' Ministers were asked for comment. 'This must include a proper long-term plan to ensure we have the medical staff needed to keep up with demand.' Figures also show how Nats' attempts to tackle long waits has stalled, despite a promise from ex-SNP chief Mr Yousaf to eradicate outpatient waits of over a year. Instead, the number of Scots facing two-year waits for outpatient appointments has soared to its highest level on record. At the end of March this year, 5,262 waits had exceeded two years, up by 3,930 from the same point in 2024. Some 63,406 had dragged on for more than a year — up more than a third from 2024. Health Secretary Mr Gray was also blasted for claims of 'good progress' in A&E waits. This is despite just 69.9 per cent of attendees being seen within four hours, a rise of just one percentage point from last week but well below the 95 per cent target. Mr Gray boasted the figure was the best since July 2023, despite it being 25 points below that performance target. He said: 'A&E sites have been the best-performing in the UK for a decade and latest weekly A&E performance is continuing to improve. 'Long waits have also continued to decrease, despite an increase in attendances.' But Dr Gulhane hit back: 'Neil Gray's comments are tone deaf. Thousands are still waiting far too long in A&E and the SNP are nowhere near hitting their four-hour target.' In January, the First Minister vowed to cut waiting lists by the next Holyrood poll in May 2026. However, ministers have refused to put a target for the overall totals. A Scottish Government spokesman insisted waiting time figures were 'encouraging' and showed improvements in some metrics. He added: 'Our 2025-26 budget provides record funding of £billion for health and social care, with NHS boards receiving an additional £200million to reduce waiting lists and help support reduction of delayed discharge. 'NHS boards have exceeded the commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures in 2024-25, funded through our £30million investment, with boards reporting delivery of 105,500 appointments and procedures.'
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
‘One in nine' Scots on NHS waiting list as delays hit record
Because some people are on more than one list, Public Health Scotland estimates that the total number of Scots waiting for at least one form of care is around 629,632 — roughly one in nine people in Scotland. READ MORE Performance against national standards continues to fall short. Just 61.2% of completed new outpatient waits met the 12-week standard in the quarter to March 2025 — down from 63.1% in the previous quarter. The standard, set by the Scottish Government, stipulates that 95% of patients should be seen within 12 weeks of referral. Meanwhile, only 56.7% of inpatient or day case treatments were completed within the 12-week window set out in the legally binding Treatment Time Guarantee. The number of people waiting more than a year continues to grow. At the end of March 2025, there were 63,406 new outpatient waits exceeding 12 months — a 34.1% rise on the previous year. Those waiting more than two years rose to 5,262 — up by 3,930 from March 2024 — the highest figure ever recorded. In inpatient or day case care, waits over a year stood at 38,702 — a 2.9% year-on-year increase — while those over two years hit 7,969, up 6.3% since December 2024. An additional 1,518 patients had been waiting for more than three years. NHS Lothian, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, and NHS Grampian recorded the longest outpatient waits. The worst inpatient delays were reported in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lothian, and NHS Grampian, with orthopaedics identified as a major contributor. Public Health Scotland also published data on diagnostic tests, covering eight key procedures including endoscopy, colonoscopy, CT and MRI scans, and non-obstetric ultrasound. At the end of March, 142,747 people were waiting for one of these tests — up 7.0% from the previous quarter, but down by 9,000 cases from April 2024. Despite targets set in July 2022 to eliminate one- and two-year waits by September 2024, none were met nationally. A revised pledge in the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan — published in March 2025 — promises that no patient will wait more than 52 weeks by the end of March 2026. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: 'After nearly two decades of chronic SNP mismanagement, the backlog in our NHS has spiralled out of control. 'Nationalist ministers should be ashamed that one in six Scots are still languishing on a waiting list for treatment or diagnostic tests while it is a scandal that a record number of patients have been waiting for over two years. 'Dedicated NHS staff are working tirelessly to clear the backlog but Humza Yousaf's flimsy Covid recovery plan and years of dire workforce planning has pushed them beyond breaking point and unable to meet demand. 'This inaction from the SNP is forcing desperate patients to raid their life savings to go private and put an end to these intolerable waits.' READ MORE A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'It is encouraging and indeed a testament to our hardworking NHS staff that the statistics published this week are showing improvements in some outpatient, diagnostic and inpatient/day case waiting-times performance metrics. 'Our 2025–26 budget provides record funding of £21 billion for health and social care — with NHS boards receiving an additional £200 million to reduce waiting lists and help support reduction of delayed discharge. 'Significant additional activity is now under way following this investment. 'We have already made good progress through our targeted funding approach. 'NHS boards have exceeded the commitment to deliver 64,000 appointments and procedures in 2024–25, funded through our £30 million investment, with boards reporting delivery of 105,500 appointments and procedures.'
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Health boards suspend Scots nursing agency amid HIV blood fears
A probe revealed 57 ICU and neo-natal staff have no virus checks Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NURSING agency has been axed over fears nearly 60 hospital staff were not tested for deadly blood-borne viruses like HIV. Four health boards have have launched probes after a whistleblower at H1 Healthcare exposed how crucial records meant to show employees were infection-free were missing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A major nursing agency has been axed from the NHS Credit: Alamy 2 H1 Healthcare has been suspended amid health board probes Credit: Alamy Last night Tory MSP Sandesh Gulhane — also a GP — said it was 'terrifying' that unscreened staff could have been allowed near patients. Insiders warned bosses they risked losing their contracts after an internal review revealed fears they were unable to prove that 57 ICU, neonatal and A&E staff did not present a risk to patients. Health chiefs in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Fife and Grampian healthboards have suspended the firm. And a source last night accused agency bosses of putting 'profit before safety'. They told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: 'Rules are strict for a reason. "Nurses can cut themselves on instruments, needles, bits of bone or teeth and expose patients to their blood. 'This agency is sending staff into operating theatres, critical care wards and to look after newborns and women who have just given birth with apparently no idea of the risks. 'To even consider sending them in knowing the checks are missing is disgusting and dangerous. 'Imagine going into hospital for treatment or to have a baby and coming out with HIV or hepatitis. 'This is profit before safety.' I was forced out of my job as NHS nurse after patient claimed he got me pregnant We can reveal agency operations manager James Hughes flagged discrepancies to bosses last August — warning they risked failing an NHS audit. He insisted action was needed on 'incorrect' fitness to work credentials which could see the company lose contracts. He urged leaders to 'make a decision' because the firm would likely lose nurses if 'we advise' 'they have to get these immunisations' because they are 'expensive and can take time to get results back'. In an email, Mr Hughes also raised concerns that 168 workers who completed e-learning courses on 'infection control' and patient 'safeguarding' had no levels on their certificates. He also told chiefs how four overseas workers had not handed over criminal records checks and insisted H1 should have carried out checks. The firm — whose parent company posted a £15.5million turnover and gross profits of £3million last year — went on to fail an audit late last year. A whistleblower shared Mr Hughes' email with health chiefs who care for a combined three million people. Last night NHS Lanarkshire was assessing 'any potential risks' while NHS Grampian was probing 'concerns'. NHS Fife chiefs were confirmed to be checking on 'certification of nursing staff' supplied by the firm. A spokesman added: 'We have sought clarity from H1 Healthcare regarding these allegations and have suspended use of the agency while these claims are fully investigated.' It emerged chiefs in NHS Lothian and NHS Ayrshire and Arran both previously used the agency. Last night Tory shadow health secretary Dr Gulhane called for Health Secretary Neil Gray to act. He said: 'It's terrifying that unscreened staff may have been allowed anywhere near patients. 'This reckless failure could have put the most vulnerable people, including children, at risk of potentially serious harm. 'Neil Gray must guarantee he will urgently investigate to ensure that this serious issue never happens again.' The firm's spokesman said: 'H1 Healthcare is co-operating fully and is confident the investigation will confirm there are no patient safety concerns.' Procurement body NHS National Services Scotland said: 'NSS has been made aware of concerns regarding the supply of agency nursing staff from H1 Healthcare and are collaborating with health boards to assist ongoing inquiries.' The Scottish Government said agency staff should only be deployed by NHS bosses as a 'last resort'. A spokesman said: 'All agencies are required to satisfy certain conditions designed to ensure the suitability of workers deployed in NHS settings. 'Each board has arrangements for ensuring all agency workers meet requirements designed to ensure delivery of high-quality patient care.'
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
NHS 24 in spotlight again amid fresh calls for service response time to be improved
Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane says 'this should be a wake-up call" PHONING IT IN NHS 24 in spotlight again amid fresh calls for service response time to be improved THE swamped NHS24 helpline finally hit its target for the first time since 2023 — after an army of extra staff were temporarily drafted in Bosses ramped up frontline workers by 71 per cent, slashing average answering times of 20 minutes to just seconds. Advertisement 1 The service answered 38,578 calls over the Easter holiday weekend Credit: GETTY But the temporary move, resulting in the goal of a wait of five minutes or less being reached, has been slammed after performance slumped since Easter. Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: 'This should be a wake-up call for Health Secretary Neil Gray to permanently fund frontline healthcare, rather than it being squandered on backroom bureaucracy.' Scottish Labour counterpart Jackie Baillie said: 'It's right that action is taken to make sure people can get help over bank holiday weekends, but Scots shouldn't have to settle for a second-rate service the rest of the year.' Average call answering time was just nine seconds on Good Friday, compared to 17 minutes the day before, NHS data shows. Advertisement Calls were then picked up within 23 seconds on the Saturday and six seconds on Easter Sunday. However, there were 825 staff on duty on Good Friday, compared to an average of 283 in recent weeks. The Saturday saw 851 call handlers instead of a previous average of 689; and on Easter Sunday there were 832, compared to 680. The service answered 38,578 calls over the holiday week, compared to 29,904 for the previous seven days. Advertisement NHS24 said: 'Staffing is planned to manage anticipated increases in calls based on predicted demand from data from previous years. 'During non-peak demand periods, we ensure that there is always a safe level of clinical supervision available through careful resource planning. Moment Scots nurse who is suing NHS amid trans doctor row is piped into tribunal as dozens show support 'Due to the necessity of clinical input into most 111 calls, we have focused our recruitment efforts and anticipate reaching full establishment by summer 2025.' The Scottish Government was contacted for comment.
