Wider policy context
To provide a 21st-century health service and realise the vision for health and social care in Scotland – a Scotland where people live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives – the Scottish Government has outlined its vision for reform.
The vision that will drive this reform, to enable people to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives, is
underpinned by the 4 key areas of:
- Place-based population health improvement
- Early intervention and prevention.
- Improved access.
- High quality service provision; all with people at the heart of decision-making.
Through the emerging National Clinical Framework, reform of NHS Scotland services will:
- Drive person-centred values through connected care.
- Drive further integration with primary care, community health and social care, delivering holistic care in the community.
- Improve quality and safety.
- Create centres of excellence which will attract and retain the best talent.
- Feed innovation hubs that will not only serve Scotland but develop economic opportunities for Scottish enterprise.
- Drive common approaches to digital technologies and innovation.
Implementation of the requirements within the recently published Director’s Letter for Health Planning (The Scottish Government, December 2024): “A renewed approach to population based planning for services across NHS Scotland” will maximise the collective power of delivering once for Scotland whilst increasing agility in responding to local population need, with a focus on delivering sustainable services.
The Scottish Burden of Disease study forecasts a 21% increase in the annual disease burden in Scotland over the next 20 years. An anticipated rise in a range of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurological conditions will inevitably place additional pressure on health and care services. Yet, the reform of
health and care services alone will not be enough to stem the current tide of population health challenges in Scotland, as the breadth of factors that impact people’s health and wellbeing go far beyond what the health and care system itself can influence.
Development of a Population Health Framework seeks to bring together and join up cross- government and cross-sector preventative action to deliver whole system change to reverse the decline in life expectancy and reduce health inequalities in Scotland.
This NHS Golden Jubilee Strategy 2025-30 describes our strategic ambitions to support healthcare reform and population-based intervention within the scope of our function and services.
The Population Health Framework for Scotland aims to improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and address worsening life expectancy through a whole-system approach. It focuses on prevention, early intervention, and equitable access to quality care, addressing key drivers like social determinants, community environments, healthy lifestyles, and fair healthcare access.
NHS Golden Jubilee will align our strategic objectives with this framework by embedding prevention- focused initiatives, creating the best possible equitable care pathways, and leveraging our role as an anchor institution to address health inequalities and support local communities, contributing to Scotland’s broader public health goals.
For NHS Golden Jubilee, this represents a significant opportunity to enhance our contribution to Scotland’s healthcare system, particularly through nationally significant services in cardiothoracic surgery, orthopaedics, advanced heart failure management, and diagnostic imaging. These specialised areas make NHS Golden Jubilee a vital resource in addressing population health challenges, ensuring efficient, high-quality, and equitable care across the country.
As a key national board, NHS Golden Jubilee will play a central role in embedding our services into this collaborative framework, supporting regional and national priorities while maintaining our reputation for excellence in specialised care. The GJUNH’s advanced cardiac services, including the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service and the heart transplant programme, align closely with the framework’s focus on optimising
service delivery at appropriate population levels.
Similarly, our orthopaedic centre, one of Europe’s largest, and its cutting-edge diagnostic facilities will be integral to reducing waiting times and improving access across Scotland. The focus on whole- system infrastructure planning and the new prioritisation framework provides NHS Golden Jubilee with the tools to address challenges such as
workforce sustainability, fluctuating service demand, and the integration of emerging technologies. By aligning its strategic objectives with this renewed planning approach, NHS Golden Jubilee can continue to lead in patient-centred innovation, foster crossboard collaboration, and contribute significantly to creating a resilient, sustainable, and equitable healthcare system for Scotland
