Health Secretary praises NHS staff for efforts

During Health Secretary Shona Robison’s visit to DGRI, she heard about the ‘seven day discharge approach’ that was implemented over the winter months, which aimed to increase the number of patients discharged over the weekend and improve flow through the hospital, and met with staff.
Ms Robison also thanked NHS staff for their fantastic efforts not only last winter but all year round.
She said it was important health boards drew on the lessons learned from last year’s challenging winter and were on the front foot this year.
She said: “We know that the winter months are always more challenging for our health boards, with today’s report showing that hospitals saw more, sicker, people last winter compared to previous years.
“With more people now living with long term conditions and a growing number of older people with multiple conditions and complex needs, it is vital that we learn from the lessons of last winter and have robust plans in place not only for this winter, but throughout the year.”
She added: “This is the earliest we have issued winter guidance and we will continue to work closely with health boards as we head into winter to learn from and build on the lessons learned from last year.
“We are also asking boards to publish their winter plans by the end of October.”