The Audit Scotland ‘Overview of Scotland’s Health and NHS Performance 2006/07’ report found that while performance against key target is improving, more work still needs to be done on exceptions such as delayed discharges and reducing older people’s readmissions to hospitals. 

It also reports that the NHS showed an overall underspend of £98m with all but one health board, NHS Western Isles, staying within its revenue budget. Overall, however, spending on the NHS in Scotland has increased to £9.4bn. 

The report also considers the NHS’ performance in terms of how healthy we are in Scotland. It finds that while mortality rates for key diseases such as coronary heart disease and cancer have decreased and overall life expectancy are improving, there remains concern over public health issues such as drug and alcohol-related problems and obesity. 

Robert Black, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “Financial management has shown clear improvements over previous years, with all boards but one managing to stay within their budget.  We would like to see this continue so that boards can adequately deal with the cost pressures they face in the future.” 

“I am pleased to report signs of progress both in performance and financial management, but there is a need for more evidence that the money is making a difference to the people of Scotland. The NHS in Scotland needs better information about its quality and productivity.” 

However, Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Mary Scanlon MSP said there were several issues of concern in the report. In particular she highlighted Scotland’s high obesity levels and “patchy” services, ambulance response times and as increase in A&E attendances.

She said: “The problems in Scotland with obesity levels are well known - here they are second only to the USA.  Services are patchy and the SIGN guideline on obesity is largely ignored. 

“NHS boards are setting aside increasing amounts of money to provide for potential clinical and medical claims.  Provisions and contingent liabilities for clinical and medical negligence claims have increased over the last three years from £134 million to £208 million, money which could be spent on frontline services.                 

“The assessment of ambulance response times are very worrying for patients.  Category A high priority calls are below target. Only 55 per cent of calls are achieved within the target time of 8 minutes.

“A&E attendances have increased by a huge estimate of 40 per cent in the past two years, now sitting at their second highest peak in the last ten years. This follows a five year downward trend before that. If this continues there could be serious implications for the health service and the public.  The increase in A&E workload and category A ambulance callouts coincide with the new GP Out-of-Hours contract.

She added that the Conservatives will also continue to push for a comprehensive review of NHS 24.

To read the full report visit the Audit Scotland website