NHS Lothian held their annual review meeting earlier today at Scottish Health Service Centre in Edinburgh.
Chaired by Jeane Freeman MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport it was an opportunity for members of the public to find out about the board’s performance over the last year.
During the public session, Mr Brian Houston, Chairman outlined key aspects of performance. He said: “There is much to be proud of. A robust programme of work to improve waiting times in our Emergency Departments is bearing fruit and we are making good progress in reducing Hospital Acquired Infections. Our capital investment programme continues apace with significant investment in Primary Care Services, the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and of course the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People”
Tim Davison, Chief Executive, NHS Lothian, said: “I am proud of the work NHS Lothian’s staff do every day to make our services the best they can be for our patients. Our focus in the coming year will be to speed up access to our services in the face of rising demand. Lothian’s population is growing faster than any other part of Scotland and we must invest in public health, and exploit innovation in technology and in new ways of working to help us address that demand and reduce waiting times.”
During the day, the Cabinet Secretary met with groups of patients and staff and chaired a Question and Answer session for the public.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman said: “The Annual Review process is an essential part of holding NHS Boards to account for their performance, both on behalf of patients and the public.
“I was pleased to conduct NHS Lothian’s Annual Review for 2017/18 to hear about the successes and challenges they have faced and their plans for the future.
“I was grateful for the opportunity to meet patients, carers, volunteers and staff, and chair the public session, giving the public the opportunity to put their questions directly to the Board. I look forward to continuing to work with the Board in 2018/19 to maintain a good standard of care for their patients.”
Lothian Labour MSP, Kezia Dugdale said:
“The NHS Lothian Annual Review highlights that our hard working NHS staff are continuing to do their upmost to provide the best service they can for patients across the region, despite the SNP government’s continued mismanagement of our health service after more than a decade in power.
“Day after day constituents from across Edinburgh contact my office with concerns about accessing a GP, treatment waiting times and cancelled appointments.
“Jeane Freeman should reflect on this and acknowledge that the SNP has failed to properly workforce plan causing a recruitment crisis for our health service, leaving our NHS staff overstretched and undervalued. I hope that the annual review will make the Health Secretary listen to NHS staff and patients and will now deliver our health service the resources that patients and workers deserve.”
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
