Question reference: S6W-25026
- Asked by: Jamie Greene, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 6 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 26 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported comments by a former health secretary that aspects of the NHS are not fit for purpose and are in need of "radical reform".
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to make significant investment in Scotland’s NHS while recognising the need to reform the way we deliver services to meet the changing needs of the people in Scotland. The Government has been clear in the Policy Prospectus and Programme for Government : reform is required. Scottish Ministers have outlined that given the growing demand our health service faces, the NHS requires major reform to ensure that we have a sustainable health service able to deliver the best possible care for patients.
Significant change is underway to ensure sustainability of services, improvement of productivity, reduction of health inequalities, adoption of innovation and technology, and overall improvement of health outcomes in Scotland.
The Deputy First Minister announced in her budget statement on 19 December that the Government will be taking forward national engagement to help shape the NHS for the future. The Deputy First Minister set out the Scottish Government's continued commitment to upholding the principles of public ownership of our NHS and ensuring that services are available free at the point of need.