30/09/2008

GRAHAME WELCOMES NEW HEALTH RESOURCES ADVISORY GROUP

SNP MSP Christine Grahame has welcomed news that the Scottish Government is to establish a special group of health professionals and academics to oversee the new budget formula for NHS Boards in Scotland. TAGRA (Technical Advisory Group of Resource Allocation) will be led by the Health Directorate along with representatives from Health Boards and leading academic analysts and experts. The group has been selected for its expertise in finance and managing resources.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health Nicola Sturgeon MSP wrote to Ms Grahame in her capacity as Convener of the Health and Sport Committee to advise of the creation of the group which will specifically look at the impact of the funding formula, introduced by the previous administration, on rural areas like the Scottish Borders. Ms Grahame said:

“This is a very sensible and prudent move and one that I think will be welcomed by senior NHS management and patients who are dependent on receiving vital care and treatment.

“The formula, which the SNP Government inherited from the previous administration, has caused some concern in some quarters about its ability to maintain and enhance NHS services, especially in rural areas like the Borders.

“This is an area which TAGRA will examine in detail and have agreed to focus closely on. TAGRA will advise Ministers directly on the future maintenance and development of the formula for allocating resources to Health Boards for hospital and Community Health Services and GP prescribing.

“The establishment of this group demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring that health board funding is directed to the areas that needs it most.

“I know from my discussions with senior management and NHS board members in the Borders that the funding model used across Scotland is a complex one. I am confident however that with the establishment of TAGRA we will see the appropriate expert advice being given to Ministers and, if necessary, changes made to how the formula operates to ensure resources are properly allocated.”

SNP It’s time.....