Tens of thousands of online consultations between patients and clinicians are set to move online permanently under plans from the Scottish government to scale up digital care.

The move is one of several policy commitments on health announced by the First Minister in a statement to MSPs this afternoon as she unveiled the Scottish government’s Programme for Government.

Ms Sturgeon also revealed that officials are already starting negotiations on a new pay award for NHS staff covered by the national 'Agenda for Change' pay and conditions agreement.

Meanwhile a mental health network is to be set up to provide confidential assessment and treatment for those whose work on the front line of the NHS has impacted their mental health.

Following the recommendations of the Cumberlege review into patient harm from interventions including mesh implants, the Scottish government has also promised to appoint a Patient Safety Commissioner.

The government says it wants the NHS Near Me video consultation platform to be “the default option where that is right for a person and they are happy to use the service”, with the aim that “all health and care consultations are provided by Near Me or telephone whenever clinically appropriate”.

The First Minister says the government also intends to develop the use of Near Me in social care, while the delivery of talking therapies for people who are mentally unwell will also be predominantly online.

Meanwhile, anyone not in need of immediate emergency care will be expected to contact a new 24/7 service operated by NHS 24 before they attend an accident and emergency department.

“Early on the pandemic we quickly upscaled the use of the near me video consultation service,” the First Minister told MSPs.

“In the week before that started just over 300 video consultations took place across our NHS. In the last week of June that number was 17,000.

“Patient satisfaction with the service was also high.

“That shows us how quickly progress can be made so while we recognise that video consultations will not be appropriate for every patient or every situation, I can confirm that we intend to move to the position where near me is the default option for patient consultations.”

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