04 November 2005
Health workers will be sent to deprived communities to provide health tests as part of a ten-year plan for the future of the NHS in Scotland announced by Health Minister Andy Kerr.
The proposals envisage a 'radical shift' in focus over the next decade, with the emphasis put on preventative medicine and the provision of a network of rural hospitals in which a new breed of 'generalist' doctors would deal with a variety of cases.
National centres of excellence for specialist services such as neurosurgery and cancer treatment are also proposed. Chronically ill patients will be encouraged to manage their own care at home.
Under the plans, there will be more private sector involvement in the NHS to bring down waiting times, a proposal likely to be opposed by the unions.
The reforms are based on the recommendations of an expert group led by a leading cancer specialist, Professor David Kerr.
Announcing the plans, Andy Kerr said: 'This is a fundamental shift in the way we want our NHS to work. As good as the work is that goes on in our hospitals, we have to try to help people to avoid using those services.
'I want to see health care that gets out into communities and into workplaces, knocking on doors and talking to people, to identify who is at risk from a heart attack, cancer, diabetes or high cholesterol and helping them to take action early to stop that happening.'
The Scottish National Party welcomed what it described as efforts to end 'Scotland's badge of shame' in health inequalities. It said consultation would need to improve if the Executive wanted to carry out changes, particularly in the case of hospital closures.
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