In 2015 the Scottish Government undertook an initiative to seek views from the public on what a healthier Scotland would look like. The Healthier Scotland Conversation asked three questions:
What support do we need in Scotland to live healthier lives?
What areas of health and social care matter most to you?
Thinking about the future of health and social care services, where should our focus be?
The aim was to engage and speak to as many people as possible, particularly those whose voices aren't heard as often. Over 9,000 people took at 240 events across the country. The Conversation reached over 360,000 people through social media channels.
The findings were grouped into five themes:
Leading Healthier Lives
Wellbeing and Connected Communities
Person-Centred Care
Social Care and Caring
A Responsive and Seamless Journey of Care
Under a responsive and seamless journey of care the summary report Creating a healthier Scotland - What matters to you noted:
Many of you were unhappy with the length of time it took to get an appointment, particularly if you wanted to see a specific doctor. Long waiting lists to see specialists was another issue, with many comments about delays in accessing mental health support.
While there was usually recognition of increasing demand for services and the impact that has on waiting lists, you also reported a lack of communication about how long you would need to wait and what other support was available in the meantime.
You told us you want more flexible services, with appointments that fit in with your lives, including work and caring commitments. Extended opening hours, including evening and weekends, would prevent you having to take time off work for your own appointments or for the people you look after.
Other suggestions included booking appointments or ordering repeat prescriptions online, emailing staff, drop-in sessions allowing you to see a health professional other than your doctors, using computers or smart phones for online services such as Skype consultations. These were highlighted as ways to take the pressure off primary care, reduce physical access issues and support self-management.While there was general support for eHealth development, some were worried that this could exacerbate inequalities, as not everyone has access to technology or the internet, or the skills to use them. We also heard that some people have a preference for face to face contact.
There was interest in a move towards more multi-disciplinary care. Although your first point of contact with health services is normally your GP, you told us that it didn't need to be, and that you had received really good care from other professionals including nurses, pharmacists, community link workers and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).
We heard from AHPs including physiotherapists and occupational therapists who talked about how they could take the pressure off GPs and prevent people from losing their independence or developing long-term conditions. Accessing support for multiple issues in one place, was suggested as a way to reduce the need for multiple appointments in different locations.