Health board backs plans to save $14m

NHS Highland yesterday backed moves to save £14 million next year.

Dr Roger Gibbins, the health board's chief executive, said controlling spending in administration and cutting the number of unused hospital beds would help to reduce costs. He added that on any one day there were up to 70 beds not in use.

Other goals in a strategic framework include meeting new waiting time targets of GP referral to treatment within 18 weeks by December 2011, further reducing healthcare-associated infection, making best use of community hospitals, and improving access to day case and day surgery.

Dr Gibbins said: "We have come a long way in the last few years with reduced waiting times.

"Our triple aim is better health, better care, better value, and if we don't focus equally on each, our efforts are likely to fail."