The Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out a plan they say “tackles the crisis at both the front door and the back door of the NHS”.
The party said that currently too many people cannot get the care they need and that “patient safety is being pushed into the danger zone”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton set out his party’s proposals to modernise the NHS during a Holyrood election campaign visit to his party’s key target seat of Strathkelvin and Bearsden on Saturday.
The party also proposes changes it says would ensure patients can get swift access to care and would improve people’s health.
Instead of firefighting crisis after crisis, we will act now to save taxpayers’ money in the long run
These include boosting cancer survival rates by detecting and treating it early, ensuring people are on the right medicines and harnessing the benefits of new technology and digital tools for staff and patients.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “Our NHS used to be the envy of the world. But now, under the SNP, too many people can’t get the care they need and patient safety is being pushed into the danger zone. The brilliant frontline staff we rely on are exhausted and burned out.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that people should get the care they need, when they need, where they need it.
“Instead of firefighting crisis after crisis, we will act now to save taxpayers’ money in the long run.
“Our plan tackles the crisis at both the front door and the back door of the NHS: strengthening public health and community services so fewer people need costly hospital treatment, and fixing social care.
“Scotland deserves better. That’s why we have a realistic plan to get things done. You can back that plan by giving us your vote on your peach regional ballot paper.”
Other Scottish Liberal Democrat proposals on health include harnessing the breakthroughs in weight loss medication and protecting the free eye tests and dental checks the party said were introduced by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
SNP candidate for Strathkelvin and Bearsden Denis Johnston said: “The SNP is the only party with a credible plan for Scotland’s NHS.
“Under John Swinney’s leadership, waiting times are falling, operations are up, new GP walk-in clinics are opening across the country, and families are benefiting from vital SNP policies, including free prescriptions and eye tests.
“While the SNP is delivering record investment in our NHS, and the highest number of doctors and nurses per head anywhere in the UK, we know what Lib Dem promises are worth after they imposed billions of pounds of austerity cuts on Scotland in coalition with the Tories.
“The whole of the UK is still suffering the long-term consequences of those Lib Dem cuts and broken promises.
“On May 7, people can unite behind the SNP to protect Scotland’s NHS, lock Nigel Farage out of power, and secure the fresh start with independence that Scotland needs.”