Call to health profession to increase pace of change

One of the driving forces behind NHS Tayside’s transformation is Scotland’s chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood.

She has called for a new “realistic medicine”, challenging the profession to abandon the outdated “doctor knows best” structure and instead adopt modern practices.

Her first annual report to the Scottish Government and medical profession outlines the cultural shift she believes needs to take place.

Dr Calderwood said: “Doctors work in a complex system which, in these demanding times, is under pressure to change.

“Scotland has an increasingly ageing population and a growing number of people who live with multiple and complex conditions.

“The subsequent increase in demand for services in an age of austerity requires us to achieve more through better use of resources.”

Audit Scotland has called for a “fundamental change” in the way NHS Scotland delivers services to cope with those increasing demands and has challenged it to increase the pace of change.

That will be led by a shift from focusing on urgent care to early detection and even prevention of illnesses.

Dr Calderwood said: “Services must adapt to the way in which people with multiple, complex and frequently changing conditions require to access care and support.

“Current models of healthcare are stretched and do not always suit patients, their carers or the aspirations of the workforce.”

Dr Catherine Calderwood says change is needed.