News / Government looks at fairer NHS funding
THE SCOTTISH government has set up a working group tasked to look at fairer funding for the island health boards in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles.
The group will focus on the cost of providing a minimum level of service in remote and rural areas, the costs of GP out-of-hours services, and the additional costs that come with the distant island allowance paid to NHS staff working on the isles.
The move was welcomed by Shetland MSP Tavish Scott who had questioned the SNP government on the issue.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon told the LibDem MSP that the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation (TAGRA) had on several occasions examined the needs of island NHS boards, and has now established a dedicated remote and rural sub-group to look closer into some of the issues.
Mr Scott said the Scottish government had accepted that island health boards were under particular financial pressure.
“Shetland needs a health service that meets the needs of islanders. That is increasingly difficult given the financial squeeze which is hitting all public sector bodies.
“I want the Scottish government to understand that proper funding has to be provided to NHS Shetland for the delivery of a minimum level of health service across Shetland.
“So this new group, when looking at these issues, needs to ensure that government ministers can make the right decisions over funding for island health boards. Funding has to be provided to ensure that we have the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff needed to treat and help patients across Shetland,” he said.
However the group will not look at a number of issues raised by the Shetland MSP, such as additional costs for staff from island boards to attend training events and national meetings on the Scottish mainland.
NHS Shetland has welcomed the move and added that it was represented on the TAGRA subgroup by both chief executive Ralph Roberts and director of public health Sarah Taylor.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
The health board said: “NHS Shetland is confident that the group will review a range of issues that impact on the additional cost of providing health services on Shetland; however, NHS Shetland also recognises that, regardless of the outcome of this review, the board will need to continue to seek significant efficiency improvements over the coming years to respond to the ongoing pressures and need to continually improve and invest in services in the future.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 630 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.