“I want you to be treated safely and quickly”
My vision is of a health service that continues to deliver fast treatment, as close to home as possible. The hard work of our NHS staff over these past years has seen waiting times fall to record lows and we have pledged to continue this progress.
However, we know that how well a patient is treated is as important as how quickly they are treated, That is why we believe in an NHS where health inequalities are reduced and patient care and patient wellbeing are the top priority.

That means an ongoing effort to ensure clean, safe hospitals, well trained and appreciated staff and modern facilities across the country.

Over the past four years the SNP Government has been working hard to deliver this vision and with your support, over the next four years, we can deliver even more improvements to our NHS.

The health service touches the life of every person in our country. It is at the very heart of our public services. That is why we are, as promised, protecting health budgets in the face of the biggest cut in Scottish spending in a generation. We will also direct resources, as far as possible to the frontline. For example, we are pledged to reduce the numbers of senior managers in the NHS by 25% over the next parliament and we will look at ways to further streamline the work of our special health boards, including ensuring further integration between NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

My aim is to ensure continuous improvement in our health care, but also to support you to make the right health choices. It is to deliver a health service that remains public free and at the point of need. With your support we can deliver on this vision for Scotland’s health service. Together we can make Scotland healthier.