Nicola Sturgeon press conference RECAP: Nicola Sturgeon says this is 'most challenging winter ever' for Scottish NHS
The First Minister will take questions from the media following a short statement amid growing pressure on the NHS, and an on-going dispute over pay with nurses and other health care workers.
The briefing comes following a meeting of the Scottish Government resilience committee (SGoRR) which took place on Friday to discuss the response to ongoing winter pressures on the health and social care system.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLast week, Nicola Sturgeon pledged the Scottish Government would “leave no stone unturned” when examining measures that could relieve pressure on the NHS.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has praised health workers as she spoke at a briefing about pressures facing the NHS in Scotland, and outlined that new staff will be recruited for the NHS 24 call service and extra care home beds will be freed up to take patients from hospital in a bid to alleviate the “exceptional” pressures on Scotland’s health service.
With details of how to watch the briefing emerging, we’ll also be running a live blog to follow the latest news and developments from the media briefing.
Updates as Nicola Sturgeon to deliver briefing on NHS winter pressures
Nicola Sturgeon says that there will be more detail from Health Secretary Humza Yousaf in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow around steps taken to protect the NHS.
She says that there is a need at the front end of hospitals ensuring there is another option for patients who do not need to be at A&E.
Nicola Sturgeon is asked what steps she is taking to stop industrial action across the NHS.
She says that the Scottish Government is the only government in the UK that has averted industrial action on the NHS so far and that the pay offer in Scotland and the efforts being made by the government will hopefully result in ongoing discussions to try and prevent action.
She adds that her government will do everything it can to prevent strike action.
The Scottish Conservatives have called for Health Secretary Humza Yusaf to resign - and during a press conference with the media, the First Minister was is asked if she accepts her government’s handling of the NHS has contributed to the pressures and the health secretary is out of his depth in this crisis.
Nicola Sturgeon added: “Humza is a health secretary doing a very good job under very difficult circumstances.”
The First Minister has confirmed that the health secretary will be giving an update tomorrow to MSPs.
And that about concludes our live blog. Thanks for your company, and as always we will have more updates and reaction on Scotsman.com.