NHS told to get in shape for elderly population boom

Boards handed £36m and told focus of care needs to shift

Health boards in Tayside and Fife were told to get into shape for the elderly population boom as they were handed an extra £36 million.

NHS Tayside is getting an £18.5m topup, compared with £17.6m for NHS Fife through funding pledged by Health Secretary Shona Robison yesterday.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats said the “public can have little faith” in the SNP’s handling of the health system given the situation at NHS Tayside, which is facing a deficit of at least £11m.

The extra Scottish Government cash comes through a formula that takes account of the varying make up of the population that health boards cover.

Fife and Tayside were two of nine health boards in Scotland to get a share of the new £327m pot.

Ms Robison said: “This settlement represents a substantial additional investment in health services for the people of Tayside and Fife.

“It reflects the Scottish Government’s commitment to continue to support our NHS with record levels of investment.

“However, I am also clear that this investment must be accompanied with service reform.

“We recognise that our growing elderly population means that we need to shift the focus of care towards the community, and that is what we’ll continue to do.”

NHS Tayside is expected to post an annual deficit of at least £11m next month. Its situation has been compounded by high spending on agency staff and prescriptions, as well as bed-blocking issues.

Tayside’s finance director, Lindsay Bedford, said they welcome the allocation announcement from the Scottish Government.

“NHS Tayside is finalising its financial plan for 2017-18,” he added.

“The plan is integral to the delivery of the board’s five-year transformation programme and will go to the board for approval in March 2017.”

Carol Potter, NHS Fife’s finance director, said: “NHS Fife welcomes the confirmation of its budget for 2017-18.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said they have been warning about the financial problems at Tayside.

“After plenty of warnings and little action, the public can have little faith in the SNP’s ability to help the health board back to its feet,” he said.