Scottish Highers Business Management Case Study: National Health Service (NHS) Sc

Question

National Health Service (NHS) Scotland is the publicly-funded healthcare system in Scotland, established in 1948. It operates with a workforce of approximately 160,000 staff working across its 14 regional NHS Boards, 7 special NHS Boards, and one public health body, making the NHS Scotland's largest employer.

### Budget
An increasing percentage of the overall Scottish Government Budget is spent on health, yet the NHS finds itself facing significant challenges in continuing to meet expectations of care. This budget is funded by taxation which means that the majority of services can be provided for free. It is expected to be around £13 billion annually, equivalent to 43% of the overall Scottish Government budget in 2017.

### Organisational Groupings
Regional NHS Boards are responsible for the protection and the improvement of their area’s health and for the delivery of healthcare services. This is achieved through preventative programmes, training, and monitoring.

Special NHS Boards, for example, the Scottish Ambulance Service, support the regional NHS Boards by providing specific services and facilitating national services.

All NHS Scotland boards are directly accountable to the Scottish Government.

### NHS Supply Chain
Health-care products are bought through a centralized purchasing department, known as the NHS Supply Chain. Products are procured from a wide range of approved suppliers to deliver cost-effective solutions to hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

### Outsourcing
Outsourcing refers to the practice of hiring a private sector company to run some services, such as dental care, optical care, and pharmacy. Care is still managed by the NHS; however, it is provided by external entities, leading to some competition. As a result, NHS boards can turn to private firms to address expensive contracts in order to provide appropriate services.

### Developing the Workforce
Traditionally GPs were the public’s first point of contact when ill. A concern for NHS Scotland is that this is dwindling to fewer and fewer GPs. Fewer GPs are willing to accept patients and others register to be then maximum capacity.

The number of GP practices has fallen by 3% in the past five years while the average number of patients has increased by 6%. In 2016, one third of all GPs were aged over 50 and planned to retire in the next 5 years.

The Scottish Government’s latest steps to improve GP recruitment and retention are as follows:

- Experienced GPs are being offered incentives to stay practising.
- Market research on the benefits of working in general practice has been launched to persuade medical graduates to become GPs.
- Incentives are being offered to encourage trainees to work in locations with a shortage of GPs.
- Payments are being offered to experienced GPs to mentor new GPs.
- Reduced working hours available for older GPs to encourage them to continue working.
- An international recruitment campaign is being used to attract more overseas doctors to fill vacant GP vacancies.

### Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
The Scottish Government has issued a sustainable development policy for NHS Scotland. It aims to promote health and wellbeing, enhance the environment, and reduce its carbon footprint. All NHS employees are encouraged to speak about sustainability when travelling, and are encouraged to reduce energy use and emissions, making use of public transport whenever possible.

(Exhibit 1 shows NHS Scotland’s hierarchy.)

(Exhibit 2 provides an overview of the Health Boards in Scotland.)

(Exhibit 3 shows NHS Scotland’s Statement of financial position.)

National Health Service (NHS) Scotland is the publicly-funded healthcare system in Scotland, established in 1948 - Scottish Highers Business Management - Question 1 - 2019

Worked Solution & Example Answer:National Health Service (NHS) Scotland is the publicly-funded healthcare system in Scotland, established in 1948 - Scottish Highers Business Management - Question 1 - 2019

What are the key functions of NHS Scotland?

How does the NHS Supply Chain operate?

What steps is NHS Scotland taking to address GP shortages?

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