Former well being minister Jean Freeman blames governments for the state of the NHS

Former Health Secretary Jean Freeman has mentioned that the present state of the NHS in Scotland is a results of the failures of successive governments – together with her personal.

Freeman mentioned politicians by no means took a long-term view past the following election on how the service needs to be managed and improved.

He mentioned governments had failed to hunt the views of NHS employees “because politics gets in the way”.

His feedback come after First Minister John Swinney admitted that “some people have to wait too long for some treatments”.

Swinney has promised to make it simpler to get a GP appointment, however mentioned there aren’t any “shortcuts” to quicker analysis and therapy within the NHS.

freeman, Who was the Health Secretary from 2018 to 2021advised BBC Scotland the sunday present Politicians “focus on what they need to do to remain in power or gain power”.

He mentioned, “The problem with that is that the essence of the issues can be lost because what we're really talking about is what do I need to do to stay in power, not what do I need to do to fix this?”

The NHS remains to be working to get well from the Covid pandemic and as of June, one in 9 folks in Scotland is on an NHS ready listing.

The most up-to-date Scottish Social Attitudes Study discovered that 69% of these requested felt that the efficiency of the NHS was getting worse.

Royal College of Emergency Medicine has additionally claimed this It is believed that greater than 800 deaths in Scotland final 12 months have been linked to lengthy A&E waits.

During a particular report on the NHS, Freeman advised The Sunday Show: “Successive governments – including mine – have not taken a long-term, beyond-election-cycle view of our health service.

“They don't take an approach that says some of the people who know best what we need to do are actually our clinical and frontline teams.”

He said the key to improving healthcare was “not leaving it to politicians” and gathering “comprehensive” views from clinical teams.

“I am including housekeeping, watchmen, booking staff, maintenance as well as consultants, doctors, nurses, physios and others,” she said.

“Sit them down and work on what they think needs to be done to allow them to provide better service.

“I would put money on the fact that actually they know they already have some answers.”

Earlier this 12 months, the First Minister had pledged His authorities will cut back NHS ready lists And make it simpler to get a GP appointment.

Latest official Public Health Scotland figures present that, by September 30, 2025, there have been an estimated 628,696 folks on not less than one new outpatient, inpatient or day case ready listing. This is equal to at least one in 9 of Scotland's inhabitants.

The present Health Secretary for Scotland has introduced An extra £531 million to be allotted to recruit employees into GP surgical procedures In the following three years.

Neil Gray mentioned the funding would make it simpler for folks to entry GP providers and assist ship digital prescriptions.

Earlier this 12 months, the British Medical Association (BMA) entered into a proper dispute with the Scottish Government over the share of the well being price range allotted to GP surgical procedures.

The BMA mentioned the share had fallen by greater than inflation yearly since 2008 and £290m was wanted to shut the hole.

The newest funding for GPs is topic to settlement on the longer term price range.

However, the Scottish Government mentioned it could initially present £98m within the 2026–27 price range, £183m the next 12 months and £249m within the third 12 months.

A Scottish Government spokesperson mentioned: “We are investing a record £21.7 billion in health and social care this year, targeting the areas with the longest waits, tackling the backlog, and ensuring patients get the care they need faster.

“Through our Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework and our 10-year Population Health Framework we have set out a collective long-term vision for the reform and renewal of health and social care.

“These were shaped through engagement with clinical leaders and system partners to ensure they were based on the realities of service delivery.

“We continue to work closely with health and care professionals to ensure services are sustainable, responsive and focused on improving outcomes for patients across Scotland.”

You can hearken to the primary a part of the particular report on the NHS right here the sunday present On BBC Scotland Radio at 11:30.