Scottish Parliament election 2021: RCoA manifesto for recovery and resilience

Published: 03/03/2021

In our 2021 Scottish Parliament manifesto, the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) is calling on the next government to jump start the pandemic recovery and address the systematic concerns preventing delivery of an efficient NHS. Our manifesto focuses on recruitment, retention and wellbeing of healthcare staff, reducing the elective surgery backlog, addressing obesity and investment in digital working.

During the pandemic, the central role of the anaesthetist in routine and critical care has become more apparent than ever. Anaesthetists across Scotland and the rest of the UK have stepped up to support the NHS at its time of greatest need, treating the sickest COVID-19 patients while helping to maintain cancer, maternity, and other urgent and planned services.

Following a wide consultation, our manifesto lays out the five core themes our Scottish members told us need to be prioritised to improve care for the hundreds of thousands of patients they treat every year.

We call on the next Scottish government to:

1. address anaesthetic workforce shortages

  • Work with NHS Education for Scotland to publish a national anaesthetic workforce strategy.
  • Work with the RCoA to develop a national retention strategy looking at staff mental and occupational health needs, learning and development, and flexible working.

2. support the health and wellbeing of NHS staff

  • Develop and roll out a package of wellbeing support measures for NHS staff.
  • Mandate that every Health Board have ‘Freedom to Speak Up Guardians’ to support staff to speak out if they feel they otherwise cannot.

3. place clearing the elective surgery backlog at the heart of its COVID-19 recovery plan

  • Identify the full extent of the elective surgery backlog and commit funds and other resources to tackle it.
  • Work with the RCoA to develop guidance/new policy to turn ‘waiting lists’ for surgery into ‘preparation lists’ to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of people waiting for surgery.

4. prioritise the public’s health by taking action on obesity

  • Commit to deliver the Restricting Food Promotions Bill.
  • Make the ‘20-minute neighbourhood model’ a central principle in town and country planning.

5. make digital working the best it can be

  • Invest in NHS IT infrastructure and practical IT support. Alongside improving connectivity, embedding videoconferencing, and ensuring software systems are fit for the future and consistent across the country.
  • Ensure active work is undertaken to mitigate against digital exclusion for patient groups who struggle to access healthcare in remote ways.

Dr Daphne Varveris, Chair of the Scottish Board, Royal College of Anaesthetists, said:

“Our manifesto for Scotland sets out a roadmap for tackling the unique challenges facing the Scottish NHS as it continues to respond to and recover from the pandemic. It also presents solutions to some of the more long-standing challenges facing our NHS and the heath of the public that predated COVID.

“During the pandemic, anaesthetists have played a central role in the treatment of COVID and non-COVID patients and so too will be essential to building back services. The future Scottish government must recognise that the success of any recovery plan will rest on having an adequately staffed workforce, mentally and physically prepared to take on the rising challenges.

“We need to see a workforce strategy that not only looks to fill the existing gaps and plan for future needs, but one which fights to retain the talented and dedicated staff already in the system. Improving amenities, increasing psychological support, and introducing a flexible culture, is not only the right thing to do, but it is essential for the Scottish NHS to provide the best care for its patients.

“To tackle the significant backlog of elective care and future proof the NHS, our elected politicians must also take this opportunity to fundamentally overhaul the way healthcare is delivered. Turning their focus to preventative measures in the fight against obesity, embracing the technology utilised during the pandemic and delivering perioperative1 patient-centred care, including help to prepare for surgery.

“Politicians must listen to those with the experience and understanding on how to tackle the healthcare crisis in Scotland. The College will continue to work closely with any new government to improve NHS services for patients and staff. By working together, we will not only be able to recover our services but build an NHS truly fit for the future.”

Read our full manifesto here.

References:

  1. Perioperative care is the integrated multidisciplinary care of patients from the moment surgery is contemplated through to full recovery. Good perioperative care should improve patient experience of care, including quality of care and satisfaction with care, improve health of populations, including returning to home/work and quality of life, and reduce the per capita cost of healthcare through improving value. For more information visit: www.cpoc.org.uk