The Scottish Government is set to put service leaders, royal colleges, third sector groups and other experts at the heart of NHS Scotland reforms over the next year.
Policymakers will collect views on how best to modify services to best cope with changing demands – this is alongside already existing work through the Scottish Partnership Forum to gather views from NHS staff.
This was announced by Scotland’s health secretary, Neil Gray, who outlined NHS Scotland’s central foundations which include improving population health, harnessing prevention and early intervention, providing quality services, and maximising access.
“Scotland’s NHS is an institution of national pride and the principles of a health service free at the point of need, must always be protected,” said Neil.
“Significant transformation to how our health services operate has never been more urgent and our vision for reform focusses on changes within current NHS structures to deliver for Scotland.
“I want to give our workforce the voice they deserve, and I am fully committed to listening and speaking with our amazing health workers who will inform our future plans.”
Scotland’s cabinet secretary for NHS recovery, health and social care also revealed that five research institutions are set to equally share a pot of £5m to conduct work improving population health.
The five organisations and their research focusses include:
- University of Aberdeen — improving outcomes for those living in rural areas
- University of Edinburgh — improving the management of gestational diabetes for mothers and their babies
- University of St Andrews — improving unscheduled care for those living in the last year of their life
- University of Strathclyde — reducing the negative impact of justice on health and improving health and wellbeing among disadvantaged communities
- Public Health Scotland — supporting research to improve pregnancy and newborn screening
Neil Gray added: “These five programmes have the potential to make a significant impact and can play a vital part in our on-going work in this field.”
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