Health secretary Shona Robison announced today an expert group would lead the review, speaking to experts and staff to see which targets could be dropped.
In the Scottish Conservative manifesto for last month’s election, the party made a similar commitment.
The document stated: “Some targets have been successful in driving up performance and boosting accountability, but it’s now clear that some are responsible for skewing clinical priorities and heaping pressure on medical staff.
“We want our doctors making the best medical decision for a successful outcome, rather than feeling they have to service the input targets.
“The Scottish Conservatives therefore support a full review of targets to assess which ones help more people survive and get better, and which simply micro-manage clinicians’ time and pull them away from prioritising the treatment their patients need.”
In an almost identical statement today, Ms Robison stated targets had “played a vital role” in improving performance, but “the time is now right to take stock of what we are asking from the NHS”.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Donald Cameron said:
“It’s very flattering that the Scottish Government should lift more ideas from our manifesto.
“Having spoken to a range of experts and people on the frontline, the Scottish Conservatives proposed this idea months ago.
“On a day when the SNP’s performance on health was again exposed with a series of failings, it’s apposite that this announcement should be made.
“It’s clear the NHS target culture is not working, and while aspirations should remain in place for some areas, we need a careful review of which ones are required.”