Strategic framework
Looking forward, the NHS is facing increasing challenges: from an ageing population with a diverse range of needs; from higher public expectations; from a need to improve value for money. Whilst significant progress has been made in tackling conditions such as heart disease, cancer and stroke, Scotland is witnessing its population living with an increase in long-term conditions such as chronic liver disease and diabetes.
Demand across the NHS is increasing in response to this changing environment, not least in the demands for emergency and unscheduled services which the Scottish Ambulance Service delivers. The traditional route to care that patients and public have accessed over the last 60 years is also changing. The pattern of demand has shifted from weekday daytime hours to ever increasing levels of demand at evenings and weekends.
In 2007, the Scottish Government set out its vision for NHSScotland in ‘Better Health, Better Care’, placing a greater emphasis on shifting the balance of care, equity of access to services, management of long term conditions, prevention and health improvement, the patient as partner with greater responsibility for self care and the further exploitation of technology to support health care delivery.
Better Health, Better Care sets out an action plan to improve health and health care in Scotland through four main themes:
- public ownership and mutuality, stating a greater emphasis on rights and responsibilities of patients and on the role of staff as partners;
- improving health and tackling health inequalities;
- ensuring better, local and faster access to health care, focusing on providing services that are patient-centred, safe, effective, efficient, equally available to all and delivered in appropriate timescales;
- Joint working with partners.
In developing this Strategic Framework we have ensured we are aligned with the Scottish Government vision for improved health in Scotland and an NHS which offers greater patient focus and easier access to services.
