Ministers promise more Scots treated at home as part of new hospital flow plan

More Scots could receive healthcare “in their homes and in their communities” as part of new NHS plans, Angela Constance said.

However the Health Secretary added that “some people may need to travel further to receive the most highly specialised care” under changes set out by the government to improve the flow of patients through hospitals.

The new plan promises that those suffering from a “life-threatening emergency”, or who require “highly specialised acute care” will be treated in hospital.

But the plan also makes clear that patients being treated in corridors or having long waits in A&E is “unacceptable and should be eradicated”.

The hospital flow plan says it “aims to tackle these issues”.

But Colin Poolman, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland said: “The Scottish Government’s plan stops short of setting out how corridor care will be measured, monitored and reported.

“Health and care leaders still lack a complete picture of the scale of the problem, and you need to understand the extent of the problem before you can solve it.”

Mr Poolman insisted: “If corridor care is to be eradicated, there must be a commitment to consistently record and publicly report its occurrence across every NHS Board, alongside a fully-funded action plan and timeline for eradication.”

Speaking about the plan, First Minister John Swinney said: “But the hospital flow plan is a commitment made by the government, which we have now delivered, which will demonstrate how we intend to improve the flow of patients through the National Health Service and to make sure individuals get the treatment they require when they require it.”

The plan sets out for an “enhanced urgent care triage system”, to help ensure patients get the right care, with this to be led by new Integrated Navigation Centres, delivered jointly by NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service and health boards.

It also proposes more people to undergo diagnostic tests and specialist assessments without being admitted to hospital.

Meanwhile, those who are admitted to hospital will be given a planned discharge date on their first day – with the government saying it wants the majority of patients to leave within three days, where it is clinically safe to do so.

Barriers to discharging patients from hospital at the weekend are also to be removed, the plan proposes – with a “discharge without delay” approach to be adopted by all health boards.

The government also plans to “significantly” expand the number of people who receive care either at home or in their local community, with the ambition of more than 10,000 people using Hospital at Home services this winter – so they can receive hospital level care while still in their own home.

Meanwhile the new GP walk-in clinics, together with centres use for healthy heart and lung checks, and mental health hubs will be used to help create consolidated health and care hubs in communities.

Speaking as she launched the new plan on a visit to Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert, Ms Constance said: “At its heart, improving hospital flow is not about targets, processes or organisational structures. It is about people and ensuring they can access the care they need, when and where they need it.”

The Health Secretary added: “Our plan will help people access more care at their fingertips, in their homes and in their communities and these reforms are designed to support them to live healthier, more independent lives.

“While more care will be offered closer to home, via pharmacies, community-based hubs such as GP walk-in services and healthy heart and lung checks, some people may need to travel further to receive the most highly specialised care.”

Ms Constance stressed: “Where people are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or requiring acute care, they will continue to be cared for in a hospital setting that prioritises dignity, privacy and experience. ”

But she added: “We are asking people to take an active role in maintaining their health and wellbeing and to use services appropriately, only calling 999 in emergency situations where they feel they have to go to A&E and dialling 111 for non-emergencies.”

The Scottish Government will now monitor how the plan is implemented, with the Health Secretary saying: “Where services are performing well, we’ll support learning by spreading good practice.

“Where it falls short, we will provide support and, if necessary, take decisive action to improve outcomes for patients and communities.”

Scottish Conservative health spokesperson Miles Briggs however claimed that the “latest half-baked plan” from the government “shows the SNP still do not have a serious plan to fix the permanent crisis in Scotland’s NHS they are responsible for”.

Mr Briggs insisted: “Angela Constance’s predecessors as health secretary including Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf failed our NHS, so why would anyone trust them to suddenly have all the answers now?

“Corridor care has become the shocking norm in Scotland’s hospitals and it’s well over a decade since the SNP first promised to end delayed discharge.

“John Swinney’s GP walk-in centres are simply not working either, yet it is clear the nationalists arrogantly believe they know better than those on the frontline.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat health spokesman Adam Harley said: “There is a risk that this plan does not address the underlying cause of hospital pressure.

“Ultimately, the only way to do that is to fix the crisis in social care, which is causing 2,000 patients every month to be delayed in leaving hospital.”