Enlighten has published our NHS2048 compendium ahead of the election alongside an open letter from our Director, Chris Deerin, to all the party leaders in Scotland.
Dear John, Russell, Anas, Ross, Gillian, Alex and Malcolm,
Having read the pre-election manifestos you have published, it is clear that you all have a determination to improve population health, and to improve the outcomes for patients in Scotland’s National Health Service.
However, as you will all appreciate, major change in any large-scale organisation can be organisationally challenging, and significant change in the NHS can be politically challenging. It will require you all to work hard, work well, and work together, to create improvements.
Enlighten launched its NHS2048 programme – named for the centenary of the health service’s founding – in November 2023. The intention was to highlight the many challenges facing Scotland’s health, and to draw out ideas from across the sector and beyond as to how these problems can be addressed.
Enlighten wants to help policymakers to make positive, popular decisions informed by healthcare expertise. We have published over 70 contributions, with authors ranging from senior clinicians to those working in the private sector, from academics to political and third sector leaders.
I have attached the full compendium of contributions to this email.
The mood among our contributors and at the various events we have held has been that cross-party collaboration is essential. With that in mind, notwithstanding the result on May 7th, I would like to invite you to meet with Enlighten and a selection of our authors after the election to discuss whether and how you may be prepared to take forward some of these ideas.
I look forward to your reply and I wish you all the best of luck in your election campaigns.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Deerin
Director, Enlighten