Opposition events have referred to as for Scotland’s well being boards to be merged as winter places the NHS below stress.

Scottish Labour has proposed decreasing the variety of boards from 14 to 3 with a view to lower by way of “bureaucracy”.

The Tories agreed that amalgamation might be mentioned however not on the expense of providers in rural areas.

It comes amid warnings of hospitals at capability and workers shortages – although the federal government says the state of affairs is best than earlier winters.

On Friday Borders General Hospital cautioned individuals in opposition to attending A&E because it was at capability and its emergency division was “exceptionally busy”.

Meanwhile BMA Scotland – Scotland’s medical doctors’ union – lately stated it was deeply involved concerning the affect quick staffing can have on the extent of care offered for sufferers.

It stated the federal government should urgently publish a workforce plan to deal with the excessive degree of medical vacancies.

Scottish Labour has stated the incompetent working of Scotland’s NHS has resulted in a devastating rise in extra deaths.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland’s Sunday Show, Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney cited the case of a affected person who was unable to go away hospital as a result of points with transporting her residence in an ambulance.

Mr Sweeney stated the affected person contracted an an infection throughout her wait and died. He stated he was shocked on the scale of the forms within the well being service.

“We’ve got 14 territorial health boards across Scotland – for a country of five and a half million, it’s way too cluttered,” he stated.

“Labour has proposed to rationalise that down to three. Speaking to clinical professionals on the front line, they’re saying systems don’t talk to each another, there’s different procurement systems, there’s way too much duplication.

“It must be rather more easy and a way more agile system for sharing information.”

Mr Sweeney added this proposal would not mean cutting staff, but “re-utilising individuals in the best roles, in the best locations” with more logical systems.

Maree Todd, the Scottish government minister for social care, mental wellbeing and sport, told the programme that an amalgamation of boards is an idea “being bounced round” and she was open to discussing the subject.

However she said areas like the Highlands and islands were “cautious” about a system that does not work for rural areas as “distinctive wants” could be overlooked.

She added: “The complete well being system is experiencing sustained stress because it has over the previous few winters – however truly we’re coping effectively.

“We’re managing to maintain at capacity for planned care, we haven’t stopped operations, there are signs we’re coping better than previous pandemic winters.”

Scottish Conservative MSP and GP, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, agreed that amalgamation of boards ought to be checked out – and whether or not they “provide value for money”.

He stated an important subject for him was the regulation of NHS managers – who should not presently regulated, whereas medical doctors and nurses are.

He stated: “There’s nothing here for people who make decisions that affect entire boards, millions of people.

“They’re not accountable for his or her resolution making and you’ll see that by way of scandals on the Queen Elizabeth. There’s no accountability at board degree. The different factor is that if we have been to have a look at amalgamating boards, we want to ensure those that stay in rural or island areas aren’t neglected.”

Following on from NHS Borders’ warning on attending A&E, BBC Scotland News asked other health boards what pressures they were facing.

NHS Lothian has been running a campaign since the beginning of December reminding people only to come to A&E if it is an emergency.

They said they are aware that there may be an influx of people who have held off from seeing the GP over Christmas and New Year.

NHS Highland said there is nothing too unexpected at the moment in terms of winter pressures.

NHS Forth Valley said on social media it was “extraordinarily busy”.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran said emergency departments have become even busier with patients waiting for admissions into the hospital.

They urged people to only attend the A&E if they have a critical emergency or require urgent care.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also said its A&Es are busy due to winter pressures.

The health board said people should follow the ABC Winter Campaign as it aims to help ease pressures across the health board.

“A&E continues to be there to assist individuals with life-threatening situations or essentially the most critical accidents, and we’d nonetheless wish to stress that anybody in these circumstances ought to name 999 or attend A&E instantly,” a spokesperson added.