Scotland Boosts Winter A&E Care with £1M Funding

The Scottish Government is injecting nearly £1 million into its health services to combat winter pressures on Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. This funding is earmarked for the Scottish Ambulance Service to bolster staffing for a clinical hub model. This approach utilizes General Practitioners (GPs) to triage incoming calls, thereby reducing the number of ambulances dispatched unnecessarily.

Health Secretary Neil Gray emphasized that patient care over the colder months is a top priority. The new measures are projected to save approximately 12,000 ambulance journeys during the winter and prevent an estimated 4,500 additional patients from needing emergency department treatment. The funding will support the expansion of patient transport hubs in the most strained areas.

In addition to this £995,000 allocation, the government has also invested £20 million in health board initiatives to boost social care capacity and ease the burden on acute services. Health officials continue to urge eligible individuals to get their flu vaccinations as temperatures fall, acknowledging the tireless efforts of health and social care staff.