Nicola Sturgeon press conference: RECAP as Nicola Sturgeon holds briefing on Scottish NHS pressures
The First Minister will be joined by the Health Secretary at St Andrews House amid growing pressure on the health service across the country.
It is unclear exactly what the briefing will address, with a similar event held last week giving advice to members of the public of the best way to ease pressure on the NHS.
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Hide AdThe First Minister may also give an update on strike action in the NHS, after last week, the Royal College of Nursing Scotland paused a formal announcement of strike action following further talks with the Scottish Government.
Talks took place on Friday January 13 with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and RCN general secretary and chief executive, Pat Cullen.
There was also talks earlier this week that took place between the Scottish Government, the RCN, and the other trade unions currently in dispute regarding NHS pay, to consider a roadmap to resolving the dispute.
Updates as Nicola Sturgeon holds briefing on Scottish NHS pressures
If you are just joining us, here are some key points
Health boards across Scotland have been ordered to review discharge plans to see if hospital patients can be sent home sooner as the NHS continues to come under “severe” pressure, Nicola Sturgeon said.
NHS boards have until the end of this month to review their discharge plans, the First Minister added.
Ms Sturgeon spoke of her concerns that accident and emergency waiting times remain “far higher than they should be”, saying these have been exacerbated by capacity issues at hospitals.
She also told journalists at a Scottish Government briefing in Edinburgh that the current pressures on the NHS “are having an adverse impact on too many” patients.