The Scottish Government has published its NHS Recovery Plan, committing more than £1 billion of targeted investment for the recovery and renewal of Scotland’s health service.

The Recovery Plan sets out key actions for the next five years to help address backlogs in healthcare and increase capacity by at least 10 per cent. It outlines a range of reforms across primary and acute NHS services to help recover from the impact of the pandemic, and get everyone the treatment they need as quickly as possible.

A key aim in primary care is to restore face-to-face GP consultations as quickly and safely as possible, while ensuring everyone can continue to make use of eHealth services like NHS Near Me, if that is their preference. The NHS Pharmacy First scheme is also being bolstered to enhance the range of services patients can access from community pharmacists without having to go to their GP.

Another priority within the Plan is to focus on the health and well-being of NHS staff, with £8 million pledged to support the mental health and well-being of the health and care workforce. A further £11 million is being invested in new national and international recruitment campaigns to produce an additional 1,500 staff over the next five years for our NTCs, 1,000 mental health link workers in communities, 800 more GPs, and boosting paramedic numbers through the £10,000 Paramedic Bursary.