Chamber
Plenary, 16 Nov 2006
16 Nov 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
National Bed Assessment
I agree that that has always been the aspiration. The difference is in the way in which health services are designed and delivered. Henceforth, far more patients will be successfully treated without needing to be admitted to hospital.
The demand for beds will also be reduced if we successfully implement the Kerr report's recommendation to stream and separate planned care and emergency care. That recommendation lies behind many of the changes that have been referred to in the debate. Separating those streams will allow clinical teams to concentrate their core skills, maximise productivity and significantly reduce the risk—to which Jean Turner referred—of planned surgical admissions having to be cancelled because of peaks in emergency demand.
We aspire to an NHS that is fit for the 21st century. We realise that, in many respects, it will look different from the service that was created 60 years ago. One of those respects is that there will be fewer general acute beds but more support from intensive care.
The changes are all about how we deliver for patients and, to deliver for patients, the NHS must change and continue to change.
The demand for beds will also be reduced if we successfully implement the Kerr report's recommendation to stream and separate planned care and emergency care. That recommendation lies behind many of the changes that have been referred to in the debate. Separating those streams will allow clinical teams to concentrate their core skills, maximise productivity and significantly reduce the risk—to which Jean Turner referred—of planned surgical admissions having to be cancelled because of peaks in emergency demand.
We aspire to an NHS that is fit for the 21st century. We realise that, in many respects, it will look different from the service that was created 60 years ago. One of those respects is that there will be fewer general acute beds but more support from intensive care.
The changes are all about how we deliver for patients and, to deliver for patients, the NHS must change and continue to change.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-4525, in the name of Jean Turner, on national bed assessment. The debate will be concl...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament notes that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde now has responsibility for a population of approximately one million; considers, therefore, that...
Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind):
Ind
I thank everybody who has managed to stay in the chamber for the debate. As I have found when trying to get here for debates, there can be great pressure on ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
Excuse me, Dr Turner. I am sorry, but I can hear members' conversation.
Dr Turner:
Ind
The Southern general hospital, in Govan, will be the only accident and emergency/trauma and general hospital on the south side of Glasgow until Hairmyres hos...
Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con):
Con
I am grateful to Dr Turner for raising this issue in the Parliament. She has made a lot of good points. One advantage that the Parliament has is that the deb...
Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (Sol):
Sol
I thank Jean Turner for bringing the debate to the chamber today. It gives us a welcome opportunity to discuss a lot of health issues that affect communities...
John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP):
SSCUP
I thank Jean Turner for bringing the matter to the Parliament today. I will read out an e-mail that I recently received, because it is relevant to the debate...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
Obviously, Sandra White would have liked to be here to speak about NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, but I will address the wider issues that are identified in ...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
I thank Jean Turner for securing this debate. As she knows, I have consistently supported the call for a national bed assessment. Indeed, the case of NHS Lan...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
You should be finishing now.
Carolyn Leckie:
SSP
Our hospitals are not kitted out to cater for the needs of disabled patients; again, I have recent relevant experience of that. There is not enough investmen...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
I congratulate Jean Turner on securing a debate on such an important subject. Although the motion refers to the situation in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyd...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Lewis Macdonald):
Lab
I congratulate Jean Turner on securing the debate.As has been said, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board faces some major health and health care challenges th...
Dr Turner:
Ind
Does the minister agree that 80 to 85 per cent of hospital treatment has always been out-patient treatment? Most hospital work is done in out-patient departm...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I agree that that has always been the aspiration. The difference is in the way in which health services are designed and delivered. Henceforth, far more pati...
Meeting closed at 17:51.