Neil Gray announces hundreds of extra staff as part of £20m health measures to tackle 'difficult' flu season

Almost 300 frontline A&E staff will be brought in to help tackle a “difficult” flu season, the health secretary has said, as the Scottish Government announced £20m in funding to bolster social care support.

Neil Gray said the cash pot will be used to increase social care capacity in a bid to reduce hospital admissions and relieve pressure on acute services.

It comes as eligible Scots are urged to take up the winter vaccine amid a warning flu season could come early this year, and be “potentially difficult”.

Children and young people have been urged to take up the jab in particular, as they may transmit the virus to vulnerable friends and family.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Ambulance Service will look to recruit around 290 staff members this year, including newly qualified paramedics and ambulance care assistants, in a bid to relieve A&E pressures.

NHS 24 will also be supported with a new call centre system, which has been backed with a £5m investment. The new system will see 90% of callers requiring an ambulance have information recorded digitally to speed up the process for patients.

The health secretary has also directed health boards in Scotland to work together to plan digital care and business systems, and make best use of available capacity for orthopaedic elective services – ensuring patients receive the care they need as soon as possible.

Gray said: “We know pressure on the system exacerbates over winter and I am determined to ensure that pressure is relieved as much as possible. We have been preparing plans for this winter season throughout the past year with NHS boards and local authorities.

“Our investment of £20m will be crucial in our efforts to bolster social care capacity, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and ensure people receive the right care in the most appropriate setting.

“A key part of our winter response is prevention, and our national flu vaccination programme is well underway. Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect our own health and those around us – with flu cases rising and initial evidence suggesting this may be an early and potentially difficult flu season, I urge all those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

“We have significantly increased Scottish Ambulance Service staffing, and we are investing in capacity in our NHS 24 call centres so that people are getting the right support quickly and when they need it.

“Our dedicated health and social care staff are the cornerstone of our winter response every year – they will continue to work tirelessly in the coming months to provide excellent care, and I thank them for their outstanding efforts.”