Professor Jackie Taylor, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow welcomed the announcement on Winter Planning for Health and Social Care. She said: “The £300m additional investment comes at a time when the healthcare sector is facing some of the worst winter pressures in our lifetime.
“The major shortfalls we’re seeing across all essential service areas through a lack of capacity, has led to a workforce that is overstretched beyond an acceptable or sustainable level.
“The commitment by the Scottish government to address and support these issues will hopefully go some way in repairing the damage. However, these words require to be put into a considered plan of action in order to drive much needed improvements for the sector and all those who work in it.
“The additional funding allocated to support recruitment within health and social care is vital but this will come with its own significant challenges due to the existing lack of supply. It will be imperative to work closely with the NHS to deliver this and to ensure a simple structure is in place to encourage retired professionals to return to service. “I particularly welcome the proposed funding to provide staff with access to basic needs such as rest facilities, hot food and drinks, pastoral care and psychological support. The vital need to improve staff wellbeing has been one of the core priorities of my presidency and I am pleased to see this step being taken in the right direction.”