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.”
Professor Lord Darzi appointed to establish the state of the nation’s health service
Report will provide ‘raw and honest assessment’ of issues facing health service
Work will be led by Rt Hon Professor Lord Darzi, OM, KBE, a lifelong surgeon and innovator, independent peer and former health minister
Findings will feed into government’s 10-year plan to radically reform the nation’s health service
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, has ordered a full and independent investigation into the state of the NHS, to uncover the extent of the issues facing the nation’s health service.
Mr Streeting says he wants a ‘raw and honest’ assessment that will deliver ‘the hard truths’. He has appointed Professor Lord Darzi, a lifelong surgeon and innovator, independent peer and former health minister, to lead the rapid assessment, which will be delivered in September.
Its findings will provide the basis for the government’s 10-year plan to radically reform the NHS and build a health service that is fit for the future.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “Anyone who works in or uses the NHS can see it is broken. This government will be honest about the challenges facing the health service, and serious about tackling them.
“This investigation will uncover hard truths and I’ve asked for nothing to be held back. I trust Lord Darzi will leave no stone unturned and have told him to speak truth to power.
“I want a raw and frank assessment of the state of the NHS. This is the necessary first step on the road to recovery for our National Health Service, so it can be there for us when we need it, once again.”
Professor Lord Darzi said: “As every clinician and every patient knows, the first step to addressing any health problem is a proper diagnosis.
“My work will analyse the evidence to understand where we are today – and how we got to here – so that the health service can move forward.
“This is an important step to re-establishing quality of care as the organising principle of the NHS.”
Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive, said: “Frontline NHS staff are doing an incredible job, despite the huge pressures they face, to deliver care to over a million people every day, but we know that they face huge struggles and patients are not always getting the timely, high quality care they need.
“We will work closely with the government, independent experts and NHS staff to take a detailed look at the scale of the challenges and set out plans to address them – this comprehensive analysis will be an important step in helping us to build an NHS fit for the future.”
The Health and Social Care Secretary’s promise to fix the broken NHS was backed by action last week when he met with key figures across the health service.
This included meetings with junior doctors to discuss ending the strikes, and talks with the British Dental Association about rebuilding NHS dentistry.
He also visited a GP surgery in north London to see first-hand how the practice is delivering a patient-led service providing continuity of care – a key pillar of the government’s ambition to improve primary care.
Mr Streeting also set out his wider commitment to support the government’s growth mission by improving the health of the nation.
The aims are based on 3 key steps:
cutting waiting times to get people back to work
making the UK a life sciences and medical technology superpower
creating training and job opportunities through the NHS to deliver growth up and down the country.
This is the response from The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland as the latest Emergency Department performance data reveals that one in every nine people waited eight hours or more to be seen in A&E last month.
The data also shows long waits have increased significantly since the 2010s.
Since May 2017, for example, the numbers waiting four hours or more has increased by nearly five times, eight hours or more by 21 times, and 12 hours or more by 89 times. Despite attendance only increasing by 0.5% in the same period.
Dr John-Paul Loughrey, RCEM Vice President for Scotland said: “It is right that the First Minister has apologised to people who have been forced to withstand treatment in corridors.
“It is unbearable for the people experiencing this loss of dignity at an already difficult time, and for the medical practitioners caring for them in impossible conditions.
“The data clearly shows that extended A&E waiting times due to overcrowding is not a new issue. It is sadly what A&E staff have come to expect.
“We once again call on the Scottish Government to take action to prevent overcrowding in Emergency Departments and the subsequent need to treat people in corridors by increasing the number of hospital beds and improving social care options so people can leave hospital when they are ready.
“I, personally, am growing weary of the inaction to rectify these longstanding issues and the resulting harms.”
“The government is duty-bound to provide the people of Scotland with safe and dignified emergency care, and now is the time to do so.”
Anyone who has had surgery under anaesthetic vaguely – and in many cases vividly – remembers the friendly face that was there for them when they woke.
Most likely, that person would have been a recovery nurse, the first person who gave the reassurance that they were safe as they opened their eyes.
Recovery nurses work in the post anaesthesia care units (PACUs) and are an essential part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals.
They assess vitals, manage pain, ensure patient comfort, and provide support during critical recovery periods.
They have a crucial role to play for all patients, but for children, their warmth and care is extra important.
One recovery nurse who embodies this is Valerie Welch who works at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. This month, Valerie celebrated her 70th birthday and remarkably 50 years of working in nursing.
Valerie qualified as a nurse down south in 1974 and moved to Scotland in 1986. In 1992, she trained in paediatrics and started her post in the RHC PACU seven years ago. She loves everything about it.
“Children are my favourite to work with. I enjoy everything about working with them,” said Valerie.
Last week, Valerie enjoyed a small celebration with her colleagues on the ward and shared some words on why she continues to do her job.
“I love the one-on-one care that is required with this job. The children are so vulnerable when they come around from surgery. We really need to be there for them, tell them they’re safe, and get their parents or carers in to be with them as soon as possible.
“There is no such thing as an average day in theatre recovery. It can be busy, but I’m never bored.
“I’m part of a fantastic team that I enjoy working with. As long as I can, I will be working here,” she said.
The Post Anaesthesia Care Unit Recovery Team shared a special comment for Valerie. They said: “Valerie has a remarkable, bubbly personality that everyone warms to, especially the children.
“You don’t achieve 50 years in nursing without having an excellent connection with patients and Valerie certainly has that with every kid that comes through our doors.
“We love that she is part of our team, and we wish her the happiest of birthdays and anniversaries.
Scotland’s International Yoga Day was celebrated on 22/06/2024 at The Kelvin Hall Art Gallery, Argyle Street, Glasgow.
This annual celebration of Yoga is a unique event hosted by The Scottish Hindu Foundation, previous years event being held at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. International Yoga Day falls on the Summer solstice recognised by the United Nations as a day of health and wellbeing.
This year Scotland’s Yoga Day began with traditional Vedic recitation to bless the proceedings and participants. Maintaining tradition the attendees were then witness to a Bharatnatayam recital dedicated to Lord Shiva performed by Mrs. Manimegalai Arun invoking the spirit of rejuvenation, wellbeing and positivity for the soul.
The opening ceremony had three guest speakers Mary Morgan, Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, Dr Shalini Kakar and Shri Amit Kumar Chaudhary from the Vice Consul of the Indian Consulate in Scotland.
Mary Morgan spoke eloquently about the benefits of Yoga citing numerous studies clearly showing the holistic benefits yoga can have on both physical and mental health and wellbeing.
She went on further to expand on the request to address, prescribing yoga addering the request by stating Yoga outreach fosters community and inclusivity, especially in underserved areas. Social prescribing connects individuals to non-medical support, enhancing holistic health and well-being through community resources.
Dr Shalini Karkar’s delivered address titled “Yoga and Health” expanded on the relationship between Yoga and Health. She stated Yoga promotes holistic well-being, addressing physical, emotional, and mental health.
Articulating that Yoga effectively treats conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, and depression. Going on to cite studies showing yoga programs reducing healthcare costs and improving health outcomes. Initiatives like the one in Edinburgh provide accessible yoga in deprived areas.
Introducing yoga in schools and as social prescriptions can enhance public health, reduce GP and A&E visits, and lower NHS workload. Sharing her own personal experience affirms yoga’s transformative health benefits.
Shri Amit Kumar Chaudhary, Vice Consul of India, commended Scotland’s International Yoga Day for its significant role in promoting health and community well-being.
He highlighted the Ministry of Ayush’s dedication to advancing yoga as a holistic health system, emphasising its numerous benefits. The Vice Consul shared that the ministry runs similar successful programs and is enthusiastic about collaborating with Scotland.
He assured that the Ministry of Ayush is ready and willing to share resources and expertise, fostering a global exchange of knowledge. This partnership aims to enhance the effectiveness of yoga initiatives, benefiting individuals and communities in Scotland and beyond.
The event featured multiple live yoga demonstrations and lessons led by trained instructors and teachers, attracting enthusiastic learners from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Participants actively engaged in learning various yoga practices, reflecting the inclusive and universal appeal of this ancient Indian tradition. The sessions highlighted the physical, mental, spiritual, and overall health benefits of yoga, making it accessible to everyone seeking its transformative power.
Yoga, as demonstrated at the event, is highly adaptable and can be suited for all ages and ability levels. This flexibility ensures that everyone, regardless of their physical condition, can benefit from yoga. Examples of the yoga styles showcased included Vinyasa Flow Yoga, known for its dynamic and fluid movements; Hatha Yoga, focusing on postural alignment and breathing; and Seasonal Yoga Flow, which adapts practices to the changing seasons.
Therapeutic Yoga was also featured, emphasising healing and recovery, while Body Clock Flow aligned practices with the body’s natural rhythms. Breathing workshops taught participants the art of pranayama for mental clarity and stress reduction. Chair Yoga made the practice accessible to those with limited mobility.
Other highlights included The Art of Living sessions, Laughter Yoga to boost mood and immunity, Kadampa Buddhist Meditation for mindfulness, Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) for vitality, and Vedic and divine mantra chanting for spiritual enrichment. These diverse offerings underscored yoga’s comprehensive approach to health, uniting body, mind, and spirit, and making its benefits available to all.
This event was organised by volunteers at The Scottish Hindu Foundation and made successful by all their hard work and dedication to putting Scotland on the global Yoga map. The community came together supported by the wonderful Yoga Teachers that led their classes with professionalism and respect for the Hindu roots of Yoga. We look forward to a bigger success in our next Scotland International Yoga in 2025.
The SHF wishes to extend their heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors and supporters that made this event successful.
“These figures, and our own research, clearly evidence the shameful and shocking reality of poorly patients who need to be cared for on hospital wards having to wait many hour hours, ever days, often on trolleys in corridors because there is not enough capacity in the system.
“There simply are not enough beds to admit people to, often because the people in those beds are medically well enough to go home but can’t because of inadequate or delayed social care support.
“It is not just a matter of inconvenience or lack of dignity – which is bad enough. The longer people’s in-patient admission is delayed, the greater the risk the risk to their life.
“There is no one quick fix, but the problems are fixable. RCEM is ready to work with whoever forms the next Government to begin the process of resuscitating our health system and ending these unacceptable and dangerous long waits.”
Funding to support the NHS, reduce carbon emissions and help tackle poverty
Almost £50 billion was spent by the Scottish Government last year on public services to help tackle child poverty, reduce carbon emissions, support the NHS and secure pay deals, according to newly published official figures.
The Provisional Outturn, which compares actual spending with the funding commitments set out in the Budget, shows that the Scottish Government spent £49.3 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. There was £292 million remaining – representing 0.6% of the Scottish Government’s total budget – all of which has been carried over through the Scotland Reserve to be directed towards priority areas in 2024-25.
In 2023-24 the Scottish Government:
spent nearly £5.2 billion on social security benefits. This includes £429 million on Scottish Child Payment, alongside funding to introduce Carer Support Payment in pilot areas, ahead of full roll-out in 2024, and to widen eligibility for Best Start Foods
invested more than £19 billion in health and social care, supporting recovery and reform to secure sustainable public services, while delivering a pay uplift for NHS staff
provided nearly £220 million to the Heat in Buildings Programme to help deliver greener and more energy efficient homes
continued providing Just Transition Fund grant funding, including £16.8 million for projects in the North-east and Moray regions, in addition to £3 million to help vulnerable global communities address loss and damage brought on by climate change
invested almost £422 million on bus services and concessionary fares, providing up to 2.3 million people in Scotland with access to free bus travel.
Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said: “These figures show once again how this government is prudently and competently managing the public finances while delivering funding for the things that matter to people across Scotland, not least the NHS and action to tackle child poverty.
“The Scottish Government has consistently balanced its budgets each and every year. This represented a significant challenge last year, as the continued impact of persistently high inflation, pressure on public sector pay, backlogs as a result of the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine combined to place pressure on the public finances.
“We are not allowed to overspend, so must leave ourselves with the headroom to manage any unexpected shocks or issues. The remaining funding has been allocated in full in 2024-25, allowing us to implement measures at the most optimal time rather than being constrained to a single financial year.”
David Jacobsen is the Socialist Labour Party Genera Election candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith Constituency.
David has 20 years experience as a healthcare worker in the NHS and is committed to a National Health service available to all at the time of need, on demand and free of all charges – including prescriptions, dental care, and eye care.
The Socialist Labour Party wants all NHS workers to receive wages and terms and conditions that reflect the social importance of their jobs.
Our objectives include the provision of NHS nursing homes free of charge for people who need them and care homes owned and operated by local authorities and not by private companies chosen by a centralised power controlled by the Scottish government.
On 29th February 2024 the Scottish Parliament passed the National Care Service Bill. This allows Scottish ministers to transfer social care responsibility from local authorities. This could include adult and children’s services as well as areas such as justice and social work.
Mr Jacobsen urges consituents to stop the transfer of healthcare functions from the NHS to the new centralised National Care Service.
Vote Socialist Labour on July 4th!
EDINBURGH NORTH & LEITH CANDIDATES:
Scottish Liberal Democrats – ANDERSEN, Mike
Scottish National Party (SNP) – BROCK, Deidre
Scottish Family Party – Defending Traditional Values – DEEPNARAIN, Niel
Scottish Labour Party – GILBERT, Tracy
Socialist Labour Party – JACOBSEN, David Don
Reform UK – MELVILLE, Alan Gordon
Scottish Conservative and Unionist – MOWAT, Joanna
Scottish Greens – O’NEILL, Kayleigh Ferguson
Communist Party of Britain – SHILLCOCK, Richard Charles
Eight key areas to improve brain tumour diagnosis have been identified in Scotland following a roundtable discussion with healthcare experts.
The Brain Tumour Charity and Dxcover Ltd. facilitated a discussion with GPs, NHS representatives, researchers, the co-convenor of the Cross Party Group on Cancer and representatives from the Chief Scientist’s Office, to improve diagnosis for people with a suspected brain tumour.
Each year, more than 1000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with a brain or central nervous system tumour (1), leading to urgent calls to prioritise better care and improve pathways to a faster diagnosis.
Following the discussion with the panel of experts in February 2024 and further research, a report was produced in partnership with The Brain Tumour Charity and Dxcover which identified eight key areas as having the most potential for improving brain tumour diagnosis.
They include ensuring that patients are monitored throughout their diagnosis until symptoms are explained or resolved, enabling optometrists to refer directly to neurology if a person presents with concerning visual symptoms and prioritising innovation to improve diagnosis of brain tumour.
12 recommendations have now been made to NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government about the changes required to ensure diagnosis pathways are effective.
The recommendations include providing guidelines to improve care and raise awareness of brain tumours, allowing opticians to refer directly to neurology and establishing a diagnostic/triage tool that would help diagnose people faster (2).
The roundtable also started a discussion on where a diagnostic tool would be most suitable in healthcare pathways. Dxcover Ltd is a Glasgow based company developing diagnostic tools for brain tumours and has developed a liquid biopsy test with artificial intelligence that could be used in the brain tumour diagnosis pathway.
The Brain Tumour Charity and Dxcover will continue to work with NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government to ensure that people with a suspected brain tumour are prioritised and that the pathway to diagnosis is improved for patient benefit.
Cameron Miller, Director of External Affairs and Strategy at The Brain Tumour Charity said: “The recommendations we are suggesting to improve the brain tumour diagnosis pathway in Scotland are based on a fruitful and impactful discussion The Brain Tumour Charity and Dxcover initiated with Scottish healthcare professionals and policymakers.
“These are stepping stones to improving diagnosis for people living in Scotland and we are committed to ensuring that people facing a brain tumour diagnosis have the support they need to ensure they are diagnosed faster and have the quickest access to the best treatments available.”
Prof. Matthew J. Baker, CEO of Dxcover said: “Dxcover was founded to enable the earliest detection of cancer. We believe that the combination of Dxcover’s multi-omic spectral analysis and machine learning will lead to the greatest impact on patient recovery, lifespan and quality of life post-diagnosis.
“We have recently launched our EMBRACE study, a pan-Europe 2,200 patient performance evaluation of the Dxcover® Brain Cancer Liquid Biopsy which will enable CE marking and provide a much-needed tool for patients.”
MPs to vote on legislation to create first smoke-free generation, protecting young people turning 15 this year or younger from harms of smoking
MPs will vote today (16th April 2024) on world-leading legislation to protect future generations across the UK from the harmful effects of smoking.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would make it an offence to sell tobacco products to anyone born after 1 January 2009 – children aged 15 or younger today. Smoking itself would not be criminalised and anyone who can legally buy tobacco today will never be prevented from doing so in the future by the legislation.
If passed, the Bill will progress to the next stage, bringing the UK closer to creating the first smoke-free generation.
Responsible for around 80,000 deaths annually, smoking is the UK’s single biggest preventable killer and costs the NHS and economy an estimated £17 billion a year—far more than the £10 billion annual revenue from tobacco taxation.
It is also highly addictive – 4 in 5 smokers start before the age of 20 and remain addicted for the rest of their lives despite most smokers having tried to quit.
The legislation will cover all tobacco products, recognising that tobacco kills two-thirds of long-term users. In England alone, almost every minute someone with a smoking-related condition is admitted to hospital.
The Bill will help deliver the Prime Minister’s commitment of creating a smokefree generation which could prevent over 470,000 cases of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and other deadly diseases by the turn of the century.
Alongside action to prevent creating future smokers, the government has already announced significant additional funding for stop smoking services over the next five years, effectively doubling the money available for local initiatives that can help existing smokers to quit. The government is also rolling out an innovative financial incentives scheme to help all pregnant smokers to quit.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: “Too many people know someone whose life has been tragically cut short or irreversibly changed because of smoking, which despite significant progress remains the UK’s biggest preventable killer.
“The truth is that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption. It is uniquely harmful and that is why we are taking this important action today to protect the next generation.
“This Bill will save thousands of lives, ease the strain on our NHS, and improve the UK’s productivity.”
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would also give the government new powers to tackle youth vaping by restricting flavours and regulating the way that vapes are sold and packaged to make them less appealing to children.
While vaping can play a useful role in helping adult smokers to quit, non-smokers and children should never vape. The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine contained within them can be highly addictive.
To ensure compliance with the new rules, trading standards officers will be given new powers to issue on-the-spot fines (fixed penalty notices) to retailers unlawfully selling tobacco or vapes to children. All the money raised would be used to fund further enforcement action.
The Bill follows the government’s previously stated commitment to ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes under existing environmental legislation, which have been a key factor behind the rise in youth vaping. The ban is planned to take effect from April 2025.
Public Health Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said: “Smoking is the number one preventable cause of disability, ill health and death in this country. Once it becomes a habit, its addictive nature means that it is extremely difficult to stop.
“Because the case against these harmful products is so strong, it’s not surprising that the majority of the British public—including those who smoke and those who sell tobacco—support plans to protect the next generation from the misery of smoking.
“Our plan will save lives, ease the strain on our NHS, and ensure a brighter future for our children.”
Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England said: “Smoking kills and causes harm at all stages of life from stillbirths, asthma in children, stroke, cancer to heart attacks and dementia.
“This Bill, if passed, will have a substantial impact – preventing disease, disability and premature deaths long into the future.”
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, said: “The Tobacco and Vapes Bill being voted on today is radical but, hard as it is now to believe, so were the smokefree laws when they were put before parliament. Parliamentarians can be reassured that the public they represent back the Bill.
“New research just published by ASH shows that the majority of tobacco retailers and the public, including smokers, support the legislation and the smokefree generation ambition it is designed to deliver. This historic legislation will consign smoking to the “ash heap of history.”
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation said: “Smoking continues to devastate the nation’s health, taking 15,000 UK lives every single year due to cardiovascular disease alone.
“Raising the age of sale for tobacco each year will be a game changer, meaning that future generations are protected from serious disease and death caused by smoking.
“Decisive action is needed to end this ongoing public health tragedy – we urge every MP to vote for this landmark legislation at the Bill’s Second Reading.”
Professor Steve Turner, Royal College for Paediatrics and Child Health President, said: “Without a doubt the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will save lives.
“By stopping children and young people from becoming addicted to nicotine and tobacco we decrease their chances of developing preventable diseases later in life, and will protect children from the harms of nicotine addiction.
“As paediatricians, we strongly urge MPs to use the important responsibility they have and support this Bill to protect children’s and our nation’s current and future health.”
Dr Ian Walker, Executive Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, said: “Today’s vote is a critical step towards the UK becoming a world leader in tobacco control. By voting in favour of the age of sale legislation, MPs will be putting us on the right side of history, and helping to create the first ever smokefree generation.
“Smoking is still the leading cause of cancer in the UK. Now is the time to take action, end cancers caused by smoking and save lives.”
