NHS Scotland has published the first of three documents on the Government's approach to health and social care renewal.
The Operational Improvement Plan sets out how the Scottish Government plans to improve access to treatment, reduce waiting times and shift the balance of care from hospitals to primary care.
Health secretary Neil Gray said: ‘This plan details how the Scottish Government will deliver a more accessible NHS, with reductions to long-waits and the pressures we currently see. It shows how we will use the £21.7bn health and social care investment in the 2025-26 Budget to deliver significant improvements for patients.
‘We want to increase the number of appointments, speed up treatment and make it easier to see a doctor. By better using digital technology, we will embrace innovation and increase efficiencies.
‘This plan is ambitious but realistic, and builds on the incredible work of our amazing health and social care staff across our health boards, to deliver real change.'
The Government aims to create 150,000 extra appointments and procedures using greater use of regional and national working through an additional £200m announced in the Budget in December.
Further targets and funding measures include:
- seeing 95% of referrals within six weeks by introducing a seven-day service in radiology, using mobile scanning units and additional recruitment
- expanding Hospital at Home to at least 2,000 beds by end-2026
- investing £10.5m in general practice to take targeted action to prevent heart disease and frailty
- national roll-out of the Digital Front Door app to modernise services and improve efficiency.
