Extra cash to help NHS get through winter

Scottish Health Secretary and Lanarkshire MSP Neil Gray has urged people to take up the flu vaccine and confirmed up to £20 million to bolster social care capacity.

- ROSS THOMSON

The £20 million investment will be targeted at initiatives by health boards to increase social care capacity and provide extra support at the front door of A&Es, which will reduce admissions and relieve pressure on acute services.

Mr Gray also warned of the potential impact of the flu virus this winter, with emerging evidence suggesting an early, and potentially difficult, flu season.

The Airdrie and Shotts MSP urged everyone eligible to get their vaccination, particularly children and young people who can transmit the virus to vulnerable family members and friends.

To help deal with increased winter pressures, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) will recruit more than 290 new frontline A&E staff this year, including newly qualified paramedics and ambulance care assistants.

To ensure callers are dealt with more efficiently this winter, NHS 24 has also implemented a new call centre system backed by £5 million of investment.

Over 90 per cent of callers triaged by NHS 24 as needing an ambulance response now have their call information transferred and referred digitally - this removes repetitive stages of the call process and significantly speeds up the process for patients.