Our Scottish Future published a new paper today calling for a new “Citizens Health Service” to be created across the UK.
It comes in the wake of public and private warnings from health leaders in Scotland that the NHS is on the verge of collapse this winter.
The new paper – entitled “A National Effort” says the UK and Scottish Governments should come together to build a new network of volunteers who can act as first responders or carers in the community, in order to take pressure off hospitals and GP clinics.
It also says Governments should work harder to help people with health conditions to self-care.
The chair of Our Scottish Future’s Health Commission Professor David Kerr says today:
“The NHS is currently facing the greatest challenge in its 75 year history. What we desperately need are practical solutions which can help our most treasured national institution survive and thrive over the coming years.”
“That is why we are proposing today that UK and Scottish Governments should come together to create a Citizens Health Service made up of volunteers and retired healthcare workers who can support patients at home or respond to people when they’re in need.”
“If we are to keep the NHS going we should summon up the ‘pandemic spirit’ when thousands of folk stepped forward to help frontline workers.”
“We also want to see our governments do more to help patients look after themselves: most of us don’t want to go to hospital and we should be doing more to support people to remain at home.”
“To protect the NHS, we need a national effort from people, most of whom are more than willing to help where they can. Our Governments should work together across the UK to make it happen.”
