NHS Tayside will be at the forefront of a £50 million plan to overhaul accident and emergency services in Scotland, it has been announced.
Health secretary Alex Neil on Tuesday unveiled a new task force to oversee the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Unscheduled Care Action Plan, designed to improve the way emergency care operates within hospitals.
Gerry Marr, NHS Tayside chief executive, will chair the unscheduled care in acute hospitals group, a spokeswoman for the health board confirmed.
The overall team leading a programme of improvements will be headed by NHS Glasgow’s Jim Crombie, the Scottish Government’s new national programme director for unscheduled care.
Members of the Royal Colleges, GPs and chief executives from NHS Grampian and the Scottish ambulance service will be included in the task force.
The announcement was made as figures were published by ISD Scotland showing the number of people attending A&E who were seen and treated within four hours reached 91.9% for March still well short of the Government’s 95% target and 98% aspiration.
However, NHS Tayside bucked the trend by beating both aspirations for the second quarter running.
Mr Neil said: “There is no doubt that pressure on our A&E departments is a pressing issue.
“We have seen a busy winter and, as we continue to deal with the demands of an ageing population, we are seeing an increase in admissions, adding even more pressure on doctors and nurses who are doing an outstanding job.
“That is why we are investing £50 million in our unscheduled action plan, to ensure people are seen quickly and treated effectively when they arrive at hospital in an emergency.”
The action plan will change the way people are seen when they are admitted to hospital in a bid to make sure they are treated as fast as possible.
Dr Jason Long, chairman of the College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said: “This is an important initiative that will improve emergency medicine across Scotland and we welcome the opportunity to collaborate on this initiative.”
Meanwhile, Mr Neil used part of an evidence session at Holyrood’s health committee to praise Ninewells’ A&E admittance process, which screens those coming through the door to ensure those with the most serious conditions are treated faster than those suffering relatively minor ailments.
“Many other boards are doing something similar,” he added.