Writing exclusively for the Press and Journal, Health Secretary Alex Neil responds to claims by NHS Grampian’s medical director that the health board has lost out on £1billion of funding over the last decade.
The NHS is rightly one of our most treasured institutions, and patients and staff rightly demand high standards of care and support.
Our pride in the service will never mask that our health service must constantly evolve to meet the changing needs of the people of Scotland.
Our commitment to the NHS is clearly demonstrated by our decision to protect and increase frontline funding for the health service.
Despite Scotland’s budget being slashed by the UK Government since 2010-11 by 7.2% in real terms, we’ve prioritised the NHS Grampian frontline budget.
Since the SNP formed the Scottish Government in 2007 we’ve protected NHS Grampian’s frontline budget, and the health board now receives almost £230million more a year than it did under the previous administration.
We’ve also ensured that NHS Grampian has consistently received annual percentage increases above the national average, and in 2015-16 NHS Grampian’s resource budget is planned to increase by 4.4% to £812.6million – the largest percentage increase of any health board in Scotland.
Investment in facilities across NHS Grampian also continues, including a planned £120million project to deliver a new cancer centre and new women’s hospital at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, £1.5million for a new dental unit for Stonehaven and £14million to deliver a new health centre in Inverurie.
The increases in NHS Grampian’s budget has also seen an increase in the NHS staffing in the area, with more than 400 additional NHS staff under this government.
There now 100 more consultants, over 140 more dentists, and over 30 more GPs under the SNP.
We’re also working to look at new ways to support the recruitment and retention of staff in NHS Grampian, which is why in August we announced plans to transform the Craigninches site in Aberdeen into various forms of affordable key worker housing, including NHS staff.
Despite the significant increases in NHS Grampian’s frontline budget, there are clearly aspects of NHS Grampian’s delivery for patients and support for staff which can be substantially improved.
That is why the review of care at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary currently underway is so important. It was the health board who asked Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) to investigate standards at the hospital, which was exactly the right thing to do given concerns raised by clinicians.
HIS must now be allowed to carry out a full and rigorous review, and they will be publishing their recommendations for improving NHS Grampian before the end of the year.
People who depend on the services of NHS Grampian can be assured we will study in great detail the report and take forward any actions as a matter of urgency.
Where there are issues we will act with boards to address them. For example, despite the improvements in A&E performance, there are still some challenges to be addressed.
That’s why we welcome that NHS Grampian has successfully recruited more A&E consultants, with an extra four middle-grade consultants due to start in the next month.
While NHS Scotland’s performance has improved we are committed to working with boards, staff and patients to meet the challenges of the future.
That is why we will continue to protect frontline NHS funding, protect NHS staff pay in Scotland, despite the UK Government reneging on NHS pay deals in England, and continually push up standards and drive improvements across the service.
Rigorous inspections teams, targeted support, and investment in the fabric of hospital and care centres demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the NHS is run efficiently and effectively in Grampian and across Scotland.