NHS Fife’s performance last year has been analysed by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.
The annual review chaired by Jeane Freeman and chief nursing officer Fiona McQueen scrutinised areas where the health authority performed well and those where it failed to meet targets.
It was held at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, where Ms Freeman was welcomed by NHS Fife board chair Tricia Marwick and chief executive Paul Hawkins.
Due to a new Scottish Government format, the review, previously held in public, will not be presented to the public until February.
Covering the period from April 1 2017 to March 31 2018, it highlighted NHS Fife’s success in treating and admitting or discharging 95% of emergency patients within four hours, bettering the national average of 92.2%.
Similary, 98.5% of those diagnosed with cancer were began treatment within 31 days, better than the target of 95% and national average of 94.3%.
The board was also able to break even financially, with a small underspend of £1.5 million.
It admitted there was scope for improvement in some areas, including outpatient waiting times, where 93.6% of patients were seen within 12 weeks of referral, missing the 95% target. Performance was, however, significantly better than the national average of 74.9%.
Mrs Marwick said: “(The) Scottish Government annual review meeting was extremely useful in providing NHS Fife with a platform to highlight some exciting examples of the many innovative ways we are working to deliver for the people of Fife.
“The new format, instigated this year by the Scottish Government, allows the government to examine NHS Fife’s performance over the previous year and provides the board with an opportunity to demonstrate how we are working to deliver Scottish Government targets, whilst ensuring that our services are efficient and responsive to the individual needs of our patients.”
Ms Freeman met with NHS Fife staff, patients and carers to discuss their needs.
She said: “I was pleased to chair NHS Fife’s annual review on December 3 at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy and am grateful to those who attended, including local patients, clinicians and other staff.
“NHS Fife is making progress in taking forward a challenging agenda in a number of areas.
“But undoubtedly, the board is not complacent and recognises there remains much to do to improve services and performance.
“NHS Fife will receive a detailed annual review letter covering the board’s performance against national targets and priorities in due course and my expectations for the coming year, and this will be published on their website.”
As a result of the format change and timing of the review, NHS Fife’s next board meeting will be held on January 30 and the review’s public presentation will be held on February 15 in Dunfermline.
