| Ms Sturgeon chaired a meeting in the Ian Low Centre at Ninewells Hospital where the NHS Tayside annual review was aired in public and members of the audience were able to question the board openly for the first time.
Up until this year, people attending the review have had little more than observer status, although written questions could be submitted in advance.
However, this year the floor was opened for questions from members of the public.
The the session was extended to accommodate a question and answer session.
On arrival in Dundee Ms Sturgeon said, “Holding those who manage our NHS boards to account in public is the right thing to do, both to give credit where it’s due, but also to tackle tough issues and drive forward improvements.
“These meetings are a chance to question key decision-makers, who are shaping the way health services are delivered across Scotland.
“I am looking forward to hearing about the progress NHS Tayside has been making in the past year and the plans it has for further improvements in the future.
“Among the positive developments I look forward to hearing more about, I am encouraged by the fact NHS Tayside is meeting many of the targets on hospital waiting times and was one of the boards that met the 62-day cancer waiting time target in the first quarter of this year.”
NHS Tayside Board chairman Sandy Watson said, “This Annual Review process is one which ensures that boards have an objective view expressed about their performance by the Scottish Government and are held accountable by the members of the public who attend.
“In a context where the Government is seeking to develop a “mutual NHS”, this is a process which we in NHS Tayside welcome.”
Ms Sturgeon has been chairing reviews of NHS Boards across Scotland over the summer.
Earlier in the day she saw how healthcare staff at Ninewells are helping to tackle local alcohol misuse problems.
After a tour of the A&E Department she held a seminar with people involved in tackling alcohol misuse across Tayside, including healthcare and voluntary workers.
She added, “I am also very pleased to be meeting some of the healthcare and voluntary workers who are helping people in Tayside with alcohol problems overcome their addictions.
“Alcohol misuse is a problem in many communities across Scotland, so I look forward to hearing about the approaches that are working in Tayside.” |
