Scotland’s opportunity to build an NHS truly fit for the future
Responding to the Scottish Parliament election 2021 Dr Daphne Varveris, Chair of the Scottish Board, Royal College of Anaesthetists, said:
“The Royal College of Anaesthetists looks forward to working with the new government in Scotland to help jump start the NHS recovery and tackle the biggest challenges facing our health system.
“NHS Scotland is at a critical junction as it begins to emerge from the pandemic. Commitments made during the election to boost frontline services through increased spending were welcome. However, going forward we will need to see more detail on how the new government plans to not only tackle the significant elective surgery backlog, but future proof Scottish health and social care services.
“The College is clear that staff must be at the heart of any recovery plan. Anaesthetists, and other healthcare workers, so many of whom took up positions on the frontline during the pandemic response, will play a central role in building back and improving services. Therefore, the new government must commit to delivering a workforce strategy that provides detailed and fully funded plans of how it will expand workforce numbers. This level of detail is needed in order to fill existing rota gaps and plan for future patient need. The workforce strategy should set clear goals of retaining NHS Scotland’s existing talented and dedicated staff. This includes delivering a package of psychological support, improving amenities, and introducing a more flexible culture. There can be no NHS recovery without staff recovery. The specialty of anaesthesia and the College representing healthcare workers within it, are ready to support this new government to deliver what is needed to improve services for Scottish patients.
“The greatest challenge facing the NHS as we look to a future beyond the pandemic is the backlog of elective surgery. In tackling the backlog, the new government should not just look to increase existing services but take this opportunity to fundamentally overhaul the way healthcare is delivered. This includes focusing on preventative health measures in the fight against obesity, embracing technology, delivering perioperative1 patient-centred care and helping patients prepare for surgery.
“Clinicians in Scotland are doing amazing work often under extreme pressures. The College asks the new government to commit to listen to those with the experience and understanding of how to deliver the safest and best care for all patients. By working together, we have the opportunity to build an NHS truly fit for the future.”
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References:
- Perioperative care is the integrated multidisciplinary care of patients from the moment surgery is contemplated through to full recovery. Good perioperative care should improve patient experience of care, including quality of care and satisfaction with care, improve health of populations, including returning to home/work and quality of life, and reduce the per capita cost of healthcare through improving value. For more information visit: www.cpoc.org.uk