Significant activity is underway to clear the longest NHS waits following the allocation of £30 million of targeted funding.
The funding has been allocated to specialty areas where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits – this includes cancer, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, dermatology and diagnostics.
It is estimated the £30 million, initially announced in April, will help boards across the country deliver around; 12,000 additional procedures, 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures and 12,000 new outpatient appointments.
Activity levels will increase over the coming weeks and the Scottish Government will work closely with Boards to support delivery.
Speaking on a visit to Ninewells Hospital’s ophthalmology ward in Dundee, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “This initial investment of £30 million will target reductions to national backlogs that built up through the pandemic. This is all part of our programme to tackle waiting times, including waiting lists for orthopaedic treatment and diagnostics for cancer.
“Together, our actions will help Scotland’s NHS maximise capacity, build greater resilience and deliver year-on-year reductions in the number of patients who have waited too long for treatment. The number people waiting over two years for a new outpatient appointment is down by more than half in the last two years, and we want to build on that progress.
“As part of the £30 million, we have invested close to £2 million in ophthalmology helping to increase activity in the short term as we aim to deliver one cataract procedure every 30 minutes on standard lists. This will allow a more resilient and sustainable service for the future.”
£3.6 million investment as capacity increases by 57% to exceed targets
The Scottish Government is continuing to invest in Hospital at Home for Older People with £3.6 million allocated for 2024/25, bringing total funding allocation for the initiative to over £15 million since 2020.
Recent statistics released by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) show that last year the Hospital at Home service for Older People, which provides a safe, alternative to being admitted to an acute hospital, exceeded targets in several key areas between April 2023 and March 2024, including:
total bed numbers have increased by over 57%, ahead of the Scottish Government’s 50% target
14,467 patients used Hospital at Home, up from 11,686 in the previous 12-month period
the Hospital at Home service is now the eighth biggest “hospital” for older people emergency inpatients, alongside Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Stirling.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “These figures from HIS show that Hospital at Home is becoming an increasingly popular care alternative for elderly patients to receive acute treatment in a place they feel comfortable and familiar with.
“There are more Hospital at Home beds available and an increasing number of patients choosing to use the service.
“Hospital at Home gives people greater independence during their recovery process. Evidence shows that those benefitting from the service are more likely to avoid hospital or care home stays for up to six months after an acute illness.
“It is also one of a range of measures that we have put in place to tackle delayed discharge numbers and free up beds within our hospitals.”
Belinda Robertson, Associate Director of Improvement, Healthcare Improvement Scotland said: “This announcement of additional funding will continue to improve access to Hospital at Home services and make them more sustainable to the benefit of patients across Scotland.
“It’s heartening to see that Hospital at Home services prevented over 14,400 people spending time in hospital over the past year.
“Moreover, with our support we’ve witnessed more NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships embracing Hospital at Home by establishing and developing services.
“We look forward to continuing to help services develop and share learning in the year ahead.”
Extra £1 million will help people shape the services they need
A £1 million investment over two years will fund work with people with dementia and their families to design and shape the support they need following diagnosis.
The funding, part of the £120 million Mental Health Recovery and Renewal fund, will see the Scottish Government working with Age Scotland to enhance support giving people a bigger say in what works for them.
COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on people with dementia. Through this partnership with Age Scotland, the Scottish Government will grow the community support that have been so critical to people and their families during the pandemic.
Early investment will be focused on building community capacity with a small grant programme, with a broader community grant programme to follow in the second year.
Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart said: “During the latest phase of the pandemic I have listened to people with dementia and their families about the need for additional flexible support and investment to help address some of the particular challenges they are facing.
“COVID-19 has impacted all of us but I know just how challenging it has been for people living with dementia, their families and carers.
“Trying to reduce this impact is the basis of our Dementia and Covid Action Plan, which we have worked with a wide range of partners to implement, since its publication in December 2020.
“There is a lot of positive work to point to, and the pandemic has particularly highlighted the importance of community-led work, responding to local need. I want to build on this work and enable more local people and communities to design and shape the support they need.
“Through this partnership with Age Scotland we will invest an extra £1 million over two years to support local communities to do that.”
Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Scottish Government to deliver this funding, which will support the development of dementia-friendly communities across Scotland.
“The pandemic has compounded challenges faced by people living with dementia and their unpaid carers. This funding will help address some of these challenges by shaping communities that work for those who have lived experience of dementia.
“Our role is to bring the voices of carers and people living with dementia to the forefront as plans are developed, ensuring those voices are heard at every stage of the design and delivery process. By doing so, we can build communities that truly support and empower people living with dementia and those who care for them.”
Military to support national Autumn/Winter vaccination programme
More than 100 members of the Armed Forces will this week join the national Autumn/Winter vaccination programme.
Some 100 vaccinators and 15 nurses will work across all 11 territorial health boards on the mainland to support the rollout of flu vaccines and coronavirus (COVID-19) injections and boosters.
Vaccinations are being offered to as many people as possible as winter approaches.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been involved in the COVID -19 vaccine rollout in Scotland, including the military, which has ensured more than 8 million first and second doses have been delivered.
“We are now in the midst of an extremely busy period for the national Autumn/Winter vaccination programme with flu and COVID-19 booster injections being offered to the most vulnerable groups, alongside first COVID-19 jabs to 12-15 year olds.
“With increasing levels of social mixing and close social contact in the colder months, it is expected that COVID-19 will add to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS. That is why we have again requested military support to complement our existing resources and to ensure we can get even more vaccinations into arms as quickly as possible.
“It remains clear that getting vaccinated is the single most effective step that anyone can take to protect themselves from the most severe disease caused by COVID-19. Anyone who has not yet received their first or second COVID-19 vaccination can check their nearest open access centre on NHS Inform or phone the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.”
An additional £10 million is going to health boards across Scotland to bring in a range of measures to get A&E patients to the right care as quickly as possible.
This includes deploying physiotherapists and occupational therapists at A&E units to help triage and treat patients who would otherwise wait to see nursing staff. This will prevent people being admitted to hospital unnecessarily.
The new funding will provide more specialists such as social care workers and Allied Health Professionals on hospital rotas, and extended opening hours for pharmacy and diagnostic services such as scanning and ultrasound to speed up referrals. It will also support extra staff for peak public holidays.
This is on top of the £300 million package of funding announced as part of the Winter Plan to support the NHS.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “As part of the NHS Recovery Plan we have invested £27 million towards the Redesign of Urgent Care to ensure people receive the right care, at the right place. This will add to that work so our hospitals and A&E departments are not overstretched, if some patients can be safely and effectively treated elsewhere.
“Alongside the additional £10 million investment recently announced to prevent delayed discharge and avoid hospital stays, this extra winter funding aims to ease pressures in A&E departments and minimise delays that patients are currently experiencing when they need urgent care.
“Placing physiotherapists and occupational therapists in A&E will stop unnecessary hospital admissions so that, for example, patients with musculoskeletal conditions, chest infections, or those who have suffered a fall, can receive the right care quickly and advice on exercises to support recovery at home and in the community.
“This is not only good news for our NHS, but also better for the public in giving treatment in the right place, so emergency care is available when it’s really needed.”
Earlier this month the Scottish Government announced a record winter funding package of £300 million to increase NHS and social care capacity.
The Scottish Government will be working with health boards over next few weeks to identify what they might need most from this latest £10 million funding.
The Scottish Government is allocating a further £482 million to NHS Boards and Integration Authorities to meet costs of the pandemic and remobilising health services.
This includes funding for Test and Protect and to support the progress of the vaccination programme.
It comes on top of £2.1 billion provided to date to NHS Boards and Integration Authorities to support additional Covid-19 costs. Further funding will be provided as necessary over the course of the year.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “Our frontline health and care workers have been remarkable throughout the pandemic, and we continue to support NHS Boards and Integration Authorities to deliver and remobilise vital services as we approach the toughest winter the system has potentially ever experienced.
“This £482 million includes just over £121 million for Test and Protect and a further £136 million for the vaccination programme. The rest of the funding will cover costs including additional staffing to support hospital scale-up, equipment, maintenance and IT.”
The Scottish Government has released £12 million in additional funding to health boards across Scotland to support non-COVID emergency care.
This immediate action will help put measures in place to reduce waiting times for urgent or emergency treatment, with a focus on boosting staffing levels and available beds.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are acutely aware that hospitals are facing significant challenges due to a rise in non-Covid attendances and that some health boards are taking necessary measures to protect urgent and emergency care capacity.
“This £12 million will support them to do so. We are working closely with those Health Boards experiencing the greatest challenges to ensure the funding delivers the improvements required.
“Our NHS staff continue to work tirelessly to respond to the pandemic whilst providing vital non-Covid treatment and safe patient care. Any reductions to service will be short term to ensure those of most critical need have immediate medical attention. Urgent treatment, including vital cancer treatment will continue during this challenging period.”
Chief Executive of NHS Lothian Calum Campbell said: “Hospitals across Scotland are dealing with the pandemic, while seeing an increase in non-covid patients arriving at their doors.
“We are grateful to the Scottish Government for working with us to ensure everyone who needs urgent or emergency care is prioritised – such as vital cancer treatment or accident and emergency care for life-threatening conditions.
“This funding will be vital in helping to provide extra staffing and bed capacity to further enhance improvements in unscheduled care and support delivery of the NHS Recovery Plan.
“NHS Lothian will use this funding to increase beds in the community, relieving pressures on acute hospitals, and to support staff in treating patients as quickly as possible.”
The public can do their part to help the NHS by considering options closer to home when they need medical attention.
Advice is available online at NHS Inform, or they can contact their GP practice or visit their local pharmacy who can help and prescribe treatment.
They can also call NHS 24 on 111 if they can’t wait for their GP practice to open, or they think they need emergency treatment which is not life-threatening.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon Macdonald, has expressed his delight as the City of Edinburgh Council is set to receive £846,000 from the Scottish Government to encourage children to play and socialise as part of the recovery from the pandemic.
Councils across Scotland will receive a share of £15m to support summer activities that are already in place in certain areas.
The support will specifically target those aged up to 25 from low income households who may otherwise struggle to access such experiences during the holidays.
£5m will also be distributed among prominent Scottish children’s charities such as Barnardo’s and Who Cares Scotland.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald, said: “I am absolutely delighted at this investment in Edinburgh’s children and young people, who have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic as they have not been able to meet up with friends or play the sports they love.
“Coming out of the pandemic young people have told us that their mental health will be a priority and the SNP Scottish Government has listened to them and is investing in summer activities.
“This will have a positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of our young people, which will be extremely important when coming out of lockdown and into recovery.”
£5 million to help meet safety standards and see more patients
Additional funding of up to £5 million is available to NHS dentists to help remobilise services as Scotland recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
This new funding will help NHS dental practices to purchase, renew or upgrade ventilation equipment as improved ventilation in surgeries can substantially reduce the time between seeing patients, and offer dental teams the opportunity to see more patients safely.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The remobilisation of the NHS is one of our number one priorities and the Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that NHS dental services emerge from this pandemic well-placed to care for the oral health of the population.
“This new funding is an important step in ensuring the continued remobilisation of NHS dental services and to ensure more patients can be seen safely. We will also continue to fund free PPE for the dental sector and, from July, we will increase it by up to 50 per cent.
“We are continuing to work with the sector to provide much-needed support to fully remobilise dental services.”
Funding will be available throughout this financial year, and will be distributed by NHS boards to those practices meeting the scheme’s conditions. Claims can be made for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2022. Further details of the scheme and how to apply will be provided to the dental sector by separate circular issued by the office of the Chief Dental Officer.
The British Dental Association Scotland has welcomed confirmation the Scottish Government will allocate £5 million to help practices invest in ventilation equipment to increase patient volumes while meeting COVID restrictions.
The BDA first made the bid for financial support to improve ventilation to the Scottish Government in November. England is now the only UK nation not to have committed any capital funding for ventilation to help restore services.
Chief Dental Officer Tom Ferris has confirmed funds can be used to purchase, renew or upgrade ventilation systems, and practices can claim retrospectively for the period 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2022.
The BDA is awaiting details of the conditions applied to the scheme, but has expressed concern that it may not cover those practices who have already installed portable units or air cleaners (such as HEPA filters) when they were unable to improve ventilation by other means in the short term, following guidance from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP).
Many in this position are based in sites unsuitable for major works, such as premises owned by health boards, in densely packed city centres with adjoining residential and commercial units, or in listed properties.
To meet strict guidelines on COVID transmission, dentists have had to leave surgeries fallow between most common procedures. Investment in ventilation ensures practices can reduce these gaps and increase patient throughput.
Restrictions have left practices operating at a fraction of their former capacity. Data from Public Health Scotland has shown a dramatic reduction in NHS dentistry delivered, which has hit those in most deprived communities the hardest. Between April and November 2020, the number of courses of treatment delivered was 83% lower than during the same period in 2019.
This week Scotland’s CDO joined colleagues from the other three UK nations to commit to reviewing current restrictions. [1] While the review may reduce the need for a fallow time longer-term, the BDA has stressed this investment is required to ‘future proof’ services in the advent of any future pandemic, to secure an immediate boost in access, and will prove cost-neutral through increased patient charge revenues.
David McColl, chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said:“This is a no-brainer from the Scottish Government. Investment in ventilation can future proof Scotland’s dental services, boost patient numbers, and pay for itself.
“We must avoid half measures. Many dentists have had no option but to buy portable systems to get patients back through their doors. Ministers must ensure they do not lose out.
“For our patients’ sake, this needs to mark a turning point when it comes to providing ongoing support to practices. Access to services has fallen off a cliff. A signature policy on free dentistry for all will be a promise that can’t be kept unless we see real commitment from ministers.”
Community foundation marks Mental Health Awareness Week by extending important partnership with SAMH to deliver bespoke training for ‘third sector heroes’
Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, is recognising Mental Health Awareness Week by announcing it will provide a further £30,000 towards its ground-breaking partnership with SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health). This new award takes the total committed to £50,000 in a matter of weeks.
Last month, the funder announced it is was awarding the national charity an initial £20,000 to deliver 40 workplace training sessions specifically designed for those working or volunteering in the third sector.
Organisers experienced unprecedented demand for all 400 places across the 10 courses being snapped up within 48 hours. As a result the registration was closed early and a waiting list established for those unable to attend in the first round.
This new award will extend the reach of the programme to organisations not yet signed up and will ensure everyone on the waiting list can attend. The partnership anticipate that collectively the two awards will reach over 900 third sector workers and volunteers working across the country.
The expansion of this strategic collaboration with SAMH showcases the Foundation’s unparalleled commitment to the third sector and all those working within it.
Funded in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, these awards recognise mental health as a key priority need through the pandemic. This new £30,000 award is the third strategic crisis grant provided to SAMH by Foundation Scotland.
The charity previously received £20,000 for this training in April and over £100,000 in October 2020 to design and deliver a partnership programme offering mental health support to key workers.
The funding will allow SAMH to deliver a further 600 tailored workplace places. Individuals will get to choose from a range of virtual sessions including A Manager’s Guide to Mental Health in the Workplace, Introduction To Suicide Prevention, Maintaining Wellbeing and Building Resilience.
These courses aim to develop participants’ knowledge, skills and confidence to protect themselves and provide support to colleagues. These practical, solutions-driven, courses are free to attend and will enable organisations to become more resilient, helping them further support the people who need them.
Feedback from those who have already taken part in the training hailed the sessions as “excellent” and “extremely useful”.
Participants reported they liked the fact it was not purely theoretical, that they found it useful to share experiences with others in similar positions and to learn from each other.
Others reported that they have benefited from gaining practical solutions, feel equipped to confidently approach those they work with who experience mental health problems and that the training will be useful for both their workplace and their personal lives.
Richard Rutnagur, Director of Strategic and Business Development, SAMH, said “It is fantastic news that we will be able to reach even more organisations to help them build their knowledge, skills and confidence in vital areas like workplace mental health and suicide prevention.
“The overwhelmingly positive response to our first round of training demonstrated the urgent need to support the third sector staff and volunteers who have worked so tirelessly during the pandemic.
We are grateful to Foundation Scotland for their continued support, and look forward to further developing our partnership.”
Helen Wray, Programmes Manager at Foundation Scotland said: “We are proud to be extending our support to third sector heroes during Mental Health Awareness Week.
“At Foundation Scotland, we recognise the vital and urgent need to protect and maintain the wellbeing of those who have worked selflessly to deliver support throughout the crisis.
“We recognise it is often these very people who feel like they can’t talk, or even have time to think about their own issues as they are so focussed on helping others. Supporting others just isn’t sustainable long-term unless you are looking after yourself and others within your organisation.
“Increasing the availability of this training will reach more individuals and more organisatons in need. The support will ensure those working or volunteering across the sector feel equipped, trained and able to cope with the increasing pressures they face. We will be directly contacting eligible groups next month so they can sign up to benefit.”
Foundation Scotland has to date awarded over £7.3 million to over 1,100 charitable groups supporting the most vulnerable people through the crisis. This support has already reached over 2 million people living across Scotland.
More funding is to be made available for businesses affected by the extension of temporary restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The First Minister announced that the current temporary restrictions will remain in place until 2 November. As a result, funding for business grants over this period will be increased proportionately.
The COVID-19 Restrictions Fund will now provide one-off grants of up to £4,310 to businesses required to close by regulations.
For businesses that may remain open but are directly impacted by the restrictions, the maximum hardship fund grant will increase to £2,155.
Additionally, grants of £1,650 will help those firms that are required to close to help meet the 20% employer’s contribution that they are required to pay under the current UK Government furlough scheme.
These one-off grants are for the period until 2 November only and will be replaced by a new system of business support to complement the “levels” approach due to be debated in Parliament next week.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “While the extension of the restrictions is based on the fundamental need to reduce transmissions of the virus, I understand that many business owners will be very disappointed that they cannot reopen next week.
“Our funding plan will help these grants reach businesses as quickly as possible to protect jobs over this period and I encourage business owners to apply for support.
“As the First Minister has made clear, this is the maximum level of support we can provide within the resources available to us and will provide transition funding for affected firms before the introduction of a new system of business support as part of the levels approach from 2 November.
“We continue to pursue urgent discussions with the Treasury about the provision of adequate support and funding to support businesses and individuals through the kinds of restrictions that are likely to be necessary in the period ahead.”
Information for businesses is available at findbusinesssupport.gov.scot
All grants will be administered by local authorities. The increase will be automatic and businesses that have already applied for a grant will not have to re-apply.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 3 November at 5pm.
