Scottish Government
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NHS meets cash saving
Over £1 billion reinvested in frontline services.
More than £1.1 billion has been ploughed back into frontline service through efficiency savings in NHSScotland over the last five years.
The latest figures for 2012/13 show that NHS Boards have again exceeded their efficiency targets of three per cent, by saving £270 million.
This is while the Scottish Government has protected and increased spending on the NHS, ensuring that this investment is channelled where it is needed most – to support patients.
Health Secretary Alex Neil outlined how NHS Boards have delivered these efficiencies as they have treated patients quicker than before, delivered safer care, brought levels of MRSA to the lowest on record and seen patient satisfaction continue to rise.
The savings, outlined in the QuEST (Quality and Efficiency Support Team) Annual Report, are made from a range of measures, including reducing bureaucracy and improving practices to free up time for patient care.
Mr Neil also confirmed that the NHS is on target to meet efficiency targets for this year, with savings again set to be directed towards patient care.
Mr Neil said:
“Our priority is to deliver the highest standards of care for the patients today and a more sustainable NHS for patients in the future.
“This report shows us that NHS Boards are continuing to find new and innovative ways to save money to reinvest in frontline services - where it is needed most.
“By reinvesting this money we are able to deliver real changes for patients, like investing in our workforce to see Scotland have more qualified nurses per head of population than England.
“While we are striving to become more efficient with taxpayers’ money we remain committed to protecting spending on health, and our latest £12.1 billion resource budget reflects a funding increase in real terms for both 2014-15 and 2015-16.
“In addition to this our NHS has a long term plan for improving both the quality of care and Scotland’s public health record while still protecting its financial future.”
The NHS Efficiency and Productivity Framework sets out areas where NHS boards are expected to achieve efficiencies, emphasising the need for innovative ways to remove waste, improve quality and streamline services.
Key efficiencies highlighted in the report include:
- The use of hand held patient records in NHS Western Isles has allowed staff to spend 15 per cent more time on direct patient care.
- Investment in a new IT system to manage patient transport has seen the Scottish Ambulance Service save over £2.5 million.
- Creation of a cardiology in-reach service at Hairmyres Hospital has resulted in 52 per cent of patients seen by a cardiologist at A&E being discharged on the same day rather than waiting to be transferred to a cardiology ward.
- Giving patients access to portable oxygen cylinders not only offered them more mobility but it also saved NHS Scotland £600,000.
