A radical shift away from hospital based care is proposed in a framework document for the future development of the Scottish health service that acknowledges that the status quo cannot be maintained.

It also proposes that Scotland should embrace “preventive, anticipatory care” by targeting packages of support at the most frail and vulnerable people to prevent future ill health and reduce health inequality.

The report has been produced by an advisory group led by David Kerr, professor of cancer therapeutics and clinical pharmacology at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.

It comes after protests across Scotland at the planned closure of …