Meeting of the Parliament 14 June 2023
As I have outlined, we are making steady progress and seeing capacity increase in our NHS in order to continue to reduce those waiting lists.
All that work is further supported by our flagship national treatment centre programme. Four NTCs are opening this year, which will provide significant new and protected capacity for orthopaedics, ophthalmics and diagnostics. The new centres, which include ones in NHS Fife and NHS Highland that opened in March and April, will provide eight orthopaedic theatres, an in-patient and day-case ward, three endoscopy rooms and two general theatres.
I recognise that orthopaedics is one of our most challenged specialties, which is why last week I met orthopaedic leads and asked them to support the development of a clear and specific plan for orthopaedics, considering capacity and what further improvements can be achieved. I want to see direct action in addressing the issue of orthopaedics, which Jackie Baillie raised.
The work that we are taking forward also includes investing in the recruitment and retention of staff. NHS staff levels are historically high under this Government, with nearly 23 per cent more in post than when we came into government. Only last week, I announced that health boards have exceeded the target of recruiting an additional 750 registered nurses and allied health professionals from overseas, with 800 firm offers in place. We will continue to do what we can to make a long-term investment in healthcare education, too, which is demonstrated by our funding a record number of nursing and midwifery student places this year.
I reiterate my commitment to recovery and reform for a sustainable NHS, and my commitment to focus on what can be done now and in the short term to maximise all capacity and resources to ensure that we see further improvements this year and into next year. As we build on the progress that we have made in the face of our challenges, we will continue to maximise our capacity to achieve year-on-year reductions in the number of people who have waited too long for treatment in NHS Scotland.
I move amendment S6M-09462.2, to leave out from “is deeply” to end and insert,
“recognises the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both the people of Scotland directly, and on the operation of the health service; further recognises that too many people are waiting too long for treatment, and welcomes the reductions in the longest waits recently; notes that health services across the four nations are dealing with the effects of the pandemic on waiting times, and recognises that use of the independent sector by individuals is proportionately lower than that in England or Wales; supports the twin approach of investment and reform of the NHS so that delivery continues to be enhanced, backed by investment founded in progressive taxation; appreciates that the workforce is at the heart of all that the NHS does, and thanks everyone working in the NHS for their dedication, expertise and commitment; believes that the NHS must be kept true to its founding principles of being publicly owned, publicly operated, and free at the point of need, and further believes that the only way to protect the NHS from the threat posed by the UK Government is to realise independence for Scotland.”
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