Audit Scotland

The Auditor General has published his annual report on the performance of the NHS in Scotland.  In it, he says that The Scottish Government needs a delivery plan that clearly explains to the public how it will reform the NHS and address the pressures on services.  Despite increasing funding and staffing, the NHS in Scotland is still seeing fewer patients than before the Covid-19 pandemic.  Auditors found that:  - commitments to reducing waiting lists and times have not been met; - the number of people remaining in hospital because their discharge has been delayed is the highest on record; - and NHS initiatives to improve productivity and patient outcomes have yet to have an impact and lack clear progress reporting.  Health accounts for about 40 per cent of the Scottish budget. Funding grew again in 2023/24 but has mostly been used to cover pay commitments and inflation. Costs are forecast to continue rising and making savings remains challenging. Work to build new healthcare facilities also remains paused.  The Scottish Government’s restated vision for health and social care is not clear on how these operational pressures on the NHS will be addressed or how reform will be prioritised. It needs to work with NHS staff, partners and the public to set out a clear delivery plan and make tough decisions about how it may change or potentially even stop some services. Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland: “To safeguard the NHS, a fundamental change in how services are provided remains urgent. The Scottish Government needs to set out clearly to the public and the health service how it will deliver reform, including how progress will be measured and monitored.  “Difficult decisions are needed about making services more efficient or, potentially, withdrawing those services with more limited clinical value to allow funding to be re-directed. Taking those steps will require greater leadership from Scottish Government and NHS leaders than we’ve seen to date.”  Read the full report at: https://lnkd.in/ean4nHyi

Audit Scotland has published its Climate Change Annual Report for 2023/24. The report provides an update on the progress we’re making towards our environmental targets and can be viewed on our website: https://lnkd.in/e5qFB7zA In 2023/24 we exceeded our overall 2030 emissions reduction target.

New report from the Accounts Commission: Scottish Borders Council. Scottish Borders Council is continuously improving, taking innovative approaches to making savings and tackling recruitment challenges. With increased demand and less money to spend, this focus on reform is vital for all councils in Scotland. In its new report, the Accounts Commission says the council has a clear vision for the future, reforming how it works to respond to many of the challenges it faces, including its geography and ageing population. With an impressive approach to managing its money, the council has a strong track record of planning and delivering on savings. Now, this approach needs to shift to focus on recurring, rather than one-off savings, helping ensure greater financial stability. Recognising that significant savings still need to be made, the council is taking a refreshed approach to transforming how services will be delivered - the SBC Way. This is supported by a new ‘self-replenishing’ fund which will see savings made invested in other projects to reform services. Now this programme needs to deliver on the required payback and ongoing savings, at the pace required to meet the council’s budget shortfall. The council must improve reporting on timescales and expected benefits, whilst ensuring local communities are involved in the changes ahead. Jo Armstrong, Chair of the Accounts Commission.: “Scottish Borders Council is tackling the challenges it faces with innovation, drive and focus. The council is looking externally, with a willingness to work collaboratively with other councils and organisations. It is making impressive strides to deliver differently. "Other councils can learn from the approach taken to tackle workforce and recruitment challenges, as well as its strong approach to managing its finances. "Like all councils in Scotland, the council must continue to prioritise reform to meet growing demand and ongoing financial pressures. It’s very early days for its new transformation programme and we will watch how it develops with interest. Now it’s vital that local people have a stronger voice in the changes ahead.” Read the Accounts Commission’s latest report: https://lnkd.in/eJ2i3WPD

Next month, the Auditor General will report on the performance of the NHS in Scotland. This publication will focus on financial and operational performances, challenges faced, and progress against recommendations from our last annual report. This will include performance against national commitments, such as the waiting time standard, and medium-term financial outlooks for NHS Scotland. Additionally, the Auditor General will be publishing our first Spotlight report, planned for Spring 2025, which will consider NHS Scotland’s governance and scrutiny arrangements. The Spotlight will look at the implementation and roll out of the revised Blueprint for Good Governance, the role of Non-Executive Board members, the Scottish Governments governance arrangements, and the new framework agreed between the Scottish Government and NHS boards. You can read more on the scope here: https://lnkd.in/eQBSUqEZ Our previous annual report reflected on the need for short-, medium- and long-term investment and reform to ensure the sustainability of the NHS in Scotland. You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/eEf3KnV6

Last week was another busy one for the Accounts Commission. Deputy Chair, Andrew Burns and Audit Director, Blyth Deans were invited to meet with representatives from the three Ayrshire councils to discuss the recent report on transformation in councils. Whilst councils have been reforming how they deliver services for years, the report focuses on the increasingly urgent need to increase the pace of change. It urges councils to listen and act on the views of local communities as they re-shape how they deliver services for the future, to manage the pressure of financial and service demand. You can read the report here: https://lnkd.in/ens6Q6Wc During their visit, Andrew and Blyth heard about the exciting work that East Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Council are exploring together to transform services. And on the east coast, Jo Armstrong, Ruth MacLeod and Derek Yule met with the Leader of The City of Edinburgh Council, Cammy Day and the council's Management Team. They discussed the Council's ambitions around net zero and poverty and what the Commission is looking for in relation to the Council's transformation of services. This includes engaging with communities and reporting on progress. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/enCGHQRD

Your Friday read: The Scottish Government spending forecast, 2027-2068. The longer-term increases in Scottish Government spending that are projected are driven largely by changes in spending on health. Over the course of the next 50 years, health is expected to take up an increasing share, growing from 35 to 50 per cent of devolved public spending.   Yesterday, the Auditor General published ‘Fiscal sustainability and reform in Scotland’. Exhibit 3 is included in the report. To read the full publication, visit: https://lnkd.in/ejm6GfKt

Today I joined the Auditor General for Scotland to give evidence to the The Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee on the report he published with the Accounts Commission on Alcohol and Drug Services in Scotland. The report covered: ⏹️Leadership and delivery of national policy ⏹️How services are responding to need ⏹️Funding of services. A link to the recording of Public Audit Committee’s evidence session is available here: https://lnkd.in/deZ9cV75 #Audit Scotland #The Scottish Parliament #Scotland #drugs #alcohol #harm

New report from the Auditor General: Fiscal sustainability and reform in Scotland. The Scottish Government continues to take short-term spending decisions. This has been effective in balancing the budget. But it risks disrupting services and restricting progress towards better long-term outcomes. In the last three years, pay decisions have led to extra financial pressures. For 2024/25, pay deals have been met with one-off sources of funding. The Scottish Government predicts shortfalls in coming years. But it does not know how higher spending will be funded. The Scottish Government hasn't been clear enough with the Scottish Parliament or the public about the current fiscal situation. There's not been enough communication of medium-term risks and what choices it must make to balance its budget. Read the Auditor General’s new report: https://lnkd.in/ejm6GfKt 

Career opportunity with Audit Scotland: R/R Shiny Developer Our Innovation and Quality is looking for a data analyst with R/R Shiny experience. As part of the Digital Audit Team, you will be assisting in the modernisation of our audit approaches, data analytics tools, and guidance. The successful applicant will have strong knowledge of R and R Shiny, practical and theoretical knowledge of statistical analysis, and experience of designing, building and testing data products. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/eH8VGiYg #r #rprogramming #rstats #dataanalyst #dataanalytics

Career opportunity with Audit Scotland: Corporate Support Assistant Our Business Support Services team is looking for a Corporate Support Assistant to help our offices run efficiently. Working within a multi-disciplinary team, you will be providing professional and welcoming reception and facilities service at our Edinburgh and Glasgow offices. The successful applicant will have experience providing reception services and working in a fast-paced business support environment. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/eTEHMvk9