NHS Scotland will maintain acute care capacity that was expanded during the first virus spike and press on with urgent care reforms amid rising covid cases and imminent winter pressures, the Health Secretary has said.

Health boards across Scotland are to retain the ability to double ICU capacity within one week, treble it in two weeks and quadruple it to over 700 under government plans published today that outline how the NHS is to deal with covid-19 through winter.

An extra £37m is being given to health and care services in Scotland to help them prepare for “unprecedented winter challenges”, including implementing an expanded flu vaccination programme and running the Test and Protect programme.

The NHS undergoes preparations every year for winter when demand on the health service rises as seasonal illnesses worsen and accidents increase.

But the looming spectre of a no-deal Brexit combined with a second surge in covid-19 cases means Scotland’s health service is preparing for what is likely to be a much tougher winter than any before.

The additional funding promised today comes after government pledged £1.1bn for health and care services last month.

Scotland’s NHS is to remain on an emergency footing until at least March 2021.

Unveiling the NHS winter preparedness plan today, the Health Secretary said although health boards would strive to carry out as much elective care as possible, “very real challenges” would inevitably lead to more “difficult decisions” about cancelling services.

A similar plan for social care is expected next week.

“The curtailment of many services for patients in the early stage of the pandemic meant that many people who need care are waiting longer than any of us would want,” the Health Secretary said.

“I am truly grateful to them for bearing with us and as far as I can I do want to assure those patient that we are doing all we can to get the care to them as quickly as possible.

“…We know the next few months – like the year so far – are not going to be easy. They will once again require difficult judgements and difficult choices to be made. I am all too aware of the sacrifices our response will entail – from the amazing but weary front-line workers to those across our communities who may need to wait longer for treatment than I would want.”

Under the plan, the temporary NHS Louisa Jordan hospital is to remain in use after over 4,000 outpatients have been seen there since July.

“That facility offers us crucial additional capacity in orthopaedics, dermatology, oral medicine and imaging as well as remaining ready to stand up to care for covid patients if we need it to,” Ms Freeman said.

Current redesign of urgent care is now “all the more important”, the Health Secretary said.:

“That redesign work…aims to help patients know where to go for urgent care when they need it. This is a significant programme of work and it won’t be completed in six months, or even a year. 

“It will be undertaken carefully and in stages…The first phase of that redesign programme will be implemented at a pathfinder site over November.

“With the lessons and the learning from that – from patients as well as from the service, we then aim for a national rollout in December – supported by £20m of investment and a major information campaign to ensure people know how to access the right care in the right place.”

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