What Scotland's NHS will look like in the future

Amid repeated warnings of Scotland's NHS being under increasing strain, with staff complaining of being overworked, ministers have been keen to stress that major changes to the way the health service operates are already under way.

The new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. Reports suggest that patients are increasing being given drips to use at home, in an effort to free up hospital beds. Picture: TSPL

Reports today suggest that patients are increasing being given drips to use at home, in an effort to free up hospital beds. A pilot project being run by NHS Lanarkshire aims to give patients the drips they need without them ever needing to enter a ward.

The initiative is a good example of the Scottish Government’s ambition for more patients to be treated closer to home, relieving pressure on the creaking NHS.

So what else can Scottish patients expect from the health service in the coming years?

New-look GP surgeries

In the future, patients may not see a GP when they book an appointment at their local surgery.

The aim is for “clusters” of health workers including nurses, physiotherapists and pharmacists to be available so that the needs of each patients can be met faster.

GPs themselves will be given greater leadership responsibilities and better access to hospital tests, allowing them to give patients faster and more accurate referrals.

Go to the pharmacy, not the doctor

Ministers want to strengthen the role of community pharmacies, making them the “first port of call” for many patients rather than a GP appointment. The aim is to reduce pressure on surgeries, allowing people to access repeat prescriptions and other medicines more easily.

It is hoped that by beefing up the role of pharmacists and allowing them to oversee people with long-term conditions, such patients can be kept out of hospital as much as possible.

Online medical records

The Scottish Government is planning to give all patients online access to a summary of their Electronic Patient Record, which includes information on everything from medication they have taken to any allergies.

The aim is for patients to be better informed about their own health and have the ability to manage their treatment digitally.

More people will die at home, not in hospital

With patient surveys suggesting that the vast majority would prefer to die at home rather than in hospital given the choice, ministers want to give everyone a greater say over their end-of-life care, allowing individuals and their families to dictate what happens to them.

Backed by millions of pounds of funding, the aim is for fewer patients to die in hospitals – which has the added benefit of freeing up beds for those who need them.

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