MEDICAL and nursing organisations have united to attack the “unsustainable culture” of targets in Scotland’s health service and call for urgent action to ensure it is fit for purpose.

A “bold and visionary” approach is needed to bring about genuine change in the NHS, according to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties in Scotland and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland.

A joint statement from the groups said: “It is often skewing clinical priorities, wasting resources and focusing energy on too many of the wrong things.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said she would listen carefully to the concerns but added progress had been made.