RIGHTS BILL TO PUT PATIENTS AT CENTRE OF NHS FOR A HEALTHIER SCOTLAND

RIGHTS BILL TO PUT PATIENTS AT CENTRE OF NHS FOR A HEALTHIER SCOTLAND

Welcoming the Scottish Government's announcement that it will introduce a Patients’ Rights Bill in the coming legislative year, SNP MSP Dr Ian McKee said it would place patients at the centre of the Scottish NHS whilst reinforcing and strengthening the SNP's commitment to deliver a healthier Scotland.

The Bill builds on the SNP's commitment to put patients at the heart of the NHS. The SNP in Government have introduced legislation to pilot direct elections to health boards, and investment in supporting local health care, scrapping opposition plans to shut A & E at Monklands and Ayr hospitals.

Commenting Dr McKee said:

"This is very welcome and shows the SNP is delivering on our election pledge to introduce a Patients’ Rights Bill.

"The SNP remains 100% behind this policy to ensure a more patient-focussed NHS. A central part of this Bill will be a proposed waiting time guarantee for in-patients and day cases, and the consideration of strengthening of the system of complaints.

"The Scottish Government's policy is patient centred and has been welcomed by patients themselves and organisations such as the Scottish Patients' Association who have been campaigning for this for many
years.

"I look forward to this Bill going forward so that patients' rights can be strengthened to ensure a healthier Scotland ."