Response to annual report by watchdog

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I welcome this Audit Scotland report which notes the positive steps taken by the Scottish Government and health boards to deliver for the people of Scotland.

“It also recognises the challenges our NHS faces, such as increasing demand, building a sustainable workforce and the pace of change.

“To address this we have increased financial flexibility for NHS boards, and our £850 million Waiting Time Improvement Plan will help address financial challenges and improve access to care.

“Our focus on developing leadership, which has resulted in positive changes to recruitment and retention, has also been welcomed and this is something we will look to broaden out across the workforce.

“Work to ensure people get access to health and social care services is also progressing but it needs to happen faster.

“Our delayed discharge figures show areas where integration is making a difference and we continue to work closely with Cosla to accelerate progress. Investment in our health services has grown by 6% above inflation over the last 10 years, and now exceeds £14 billion this year.”

An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said “key actions” were taken to reduce the health board’s overspend last year.

“The actual overspend for 2018-19 was £17.3m, £5m less than in our original plan,” she said.

“Looking ahead, NHS Tayside has set out a three-year financial plan and is committed to returning to financial balance by 2022. This is supported by our Transforming Tayside programme which is redesigning services and already delivering improvements.”

A major investment programme on the Ninewells site started this year on the electrical infrastructure at the hospital, funded by Scottish Government. This multimillion-pound programme is to improve buildings.

NHS Tayside is part of the National Elective Care Programme to provide additional elective care capacity in response to the growing population. An outline business case for a proposed Elective Care Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary is being developed.