NHS Scotland finding it 'difficult to cope'
The NHS in Scotland is finding it "increasingly difficult to cope" with the "significant pressures" being placed on it, according to a watchdog. Audit Scotland said NHS budgets were tightening at the same time as demand for health services was increasing. And it said the NHS had not met waiting time targets, and may not be able to do so in the future. Health Secretary Alex Neil said the Scottish government's long-term vision for the NHS would be "refreshed". This was to ensure it "reflects the increasing demands from patients and the new way services will be delivered under health and social care integration", he said. The Audit Scotland report said progress towards the Scottish government's vision of a more community-based health system by 2020 had been "slow".