28 October 2015

The First Minister delivered the inaugural Health and Social Care Alliance lecture at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.

During her speech, which outlined the Scottish Government’s ambitions for the integration of health and social care, the First Minister announced an expansion in training places for GPs. She also confirmed more investment in an innovative programme that encourages doctors to return to practice after a career break.

The First Minister said:

We’re already doing more to encourage people to choose GP training – for example by increasing medical students’ exposure to primary care when they are undergraduates.

And I can confirm today a further important step. We are increasing the number of training places for GPs by 33 per cent – from 300 to 400.

That change will take place next year, meaning that from 2019 onwards, we will begin to see additional GPs in the community.”

FM @NicolaSturgeon speaks about the @scotgov's ambitions for health and social care. #healthierscotland pic.twitter.com/ooSJRt7ozG

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) October 27, 2015

The First Minister’s speech can be read here.

Details of the announcement can be read here.

Preparing for @NicolaSturgeon @HandSCAcademy lecture at Assembly rooms tonight @UniWestScotland @heraldscotland pic.twitter.com/caOM7UOr7c

— Prof Ian Welsh OBE (@IanMWelsh) October 27, 2015

Speaking after the event, Ian Welsh OBE, the chief executive of Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland said:

“We were delighted that the First Minister set out agenda items for the nation at the inaugural lecture of the Health and Social Care Academy – a transformative initiative which aims to change the way health and social care operates.

The Academy recognises the strong focus in Scotland on improving fairness and wellbeing, underpinned by a drive for citizen engagement, and we were pleased to note the importance the First Minister places on these issues as we move forward.”

After the lecture, the first minister took questions from the audience.

Photo and feature photo on homepage provided by Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.

Click here to find out more about the Alliance on their website.