Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan

Patient participation, improved healthcare access, and a focus on the twin challenges of improving Scotland's public health and tackling health inequalities are at the heart of the Government's Action Plan for Health and Wellbeing published this week.

The 'Better Health, Better Care' strategy also sets out details of a package of measures which will deliver innovative and ambitious improvements to Scotland's primary care system over the next three years.

Launching the Action Plan, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:

"Better Health, Better Care sets out a clear vision for the NHS in Scotland. It outlines the actions we will take to improve health, tackle health inequalities and enhance the quality of our healthcare services.

"One specific area of action is an ambitious package of improvements to our system of primary care - more flexible GP access; a development of the Keep Well model of anticipatory care; and easy, walk-in access to a range of primary care services - which will start to deliver the local and more preventive health service that we need to develop for the future.

"Our Action Plan has at its heart a strong commitment to participation and involvement: to the participation of patients as partners in their own care; and to the involvement of patients, the public and staff in the design and delivery of health services in the future."

On the health of the nation, Ms Sturgeon said that while Scotland's health in general was improving, it was clear that there were still significant challenges to be faced in improving public health and tackling health inequalities. She said:

"Just last month, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland's Annual Report recognised that our health is improving, but that it is improving faster in the wealthiest sections of our society than it is in the poorest. As a result, health inequalities are widening. This government is clear that, in a country as rich as ours, that is simply not acceptable. That is why we have made tackling health inequalities our top health priority."

The Action Plan has developed out of one of the most thorough and wide reaching consultation processes ever seen in Scotland. More than 2000 people took part in face to face discussions and we received around 600 written responses.

The Better Health, Better Care discussion document was published on August 16, 2007.