The Scottish government is to release an additional £12m to Scotland’s NHS boards to support non-covid emergency care as it faces ‘significant challenges’ remobilising urgent and emergency services against a growing backlog of people waiting for treatment.

The move comes despite NHS boards reporting unusually healthy finances in the current financial year, with the injection of £380m of emergency funding to help meet the additional costs of dealing with the pandemic masking underlying deficits of £40m last year and £66m the year before.

Health Secretary Humza Yousuf says the additional funds are to be targeted at reducing waiting times, with a focus on boosting staffing levels and bed space:

“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 £12m 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.”

The Chief Executive of NHS Lothian, Calum Campbell, says his board is earmarking the additional funds to increase beds in the community to take some of the pressure off acute hospitals, as well as to try and get people appointments sooner:

“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.”

The Scottish government has promised to publish a national recovery plan, with an ambition to increase activity to 110% of pre-pandemic levels, by the middle of August, 100 days after taking office following May’s election.

 

Read more: Pandemic cash masks NHS funding challenges; Manifesto health check: the SNP; Health Secretary signals health funding review.

 

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