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'NHS of the Future' schools challenge
29/12/2008
Surgeons with micro-chips in their brains, Irn-Bru before operations and robots called Harry to do the cleaning - that's just a taste of what Scotland's NHS could look like in 2068.
Age-defying drugs and watches that teleport medics to injured patients at hyper-speed could also be on the cards, according to the young people who took part in a competition to celebrate NHS Scotland's 60th birthday.
Invited to tell Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon about their visions for the health service of tomorrow, the youngsters were not short of ideas.
They took the leap through time to find out how the NHS began and how they could be cared for in 2068.
Andrew McLean, P6, from Kelvindale Primary in Glasgow, won top prize for his vision of a robot with 10 arms that can perform brain transplants. Andrew wrote: "Each arm had a claw on the end and in each claw was a scary looking instrument!"
Other ideas included:
Kelsey Black, P6, Stoneyburn Primary, Glasgow: "When you get an operation they give you Irn-Bru before they operate."
Katie Abbotts, P6, Stoneyburn Primary: "Instead of anaesthetic there will be a thing called anadice. It will be a chewy sweet in banana and strawberry flavour to put you to sleep."
Chloe Plazalska, P6, Elder Park Primary, Glasgow: "Surgeons will have small micro-chips in their brains which will give them all the information they need to operate on patients."
Emma Quinn, P6, Elder Park Primary: "When woman go to hospital to have a baby, they will be put to sleep and under an x-ray light. The power of the light will slowly move the baby down and quietly and quickly the baby will be born.
"Robots will be used to help with cleaning and any odd jobs. They will have proper names like Harry.
"Children and adults could get a jag that would make them live until they are 110."
David Mark, P7,Stoneyburn Primary: "The nurses are robots called Fembots and the doctors are aliens called Mutations.
"Outside hospitals there is a theme park and an ice skating rink."
Jamie Green, P6, Stoneyburn Primary: "The hospital will have a kennel with a vet so you can take your animals with you.
"Hospitals will be on water. When you die you get buried with the fish."
Rachel Black, P6, Elder Park Primary: "All staff in hospitals will have a special watch which allows them to teleport. Paramedics would be able to get to houses much quicker, avoiding traffic."
Ms Sturgeon said:
"In the year of the 60th anniversary of the NHS in Scotland, I am delighted that the vivid imaginations of our school children predicted amazing things for the NHS of the future.
"My own hope and vision for the future of the NHS may not be quite as imaginative as some of the entrants. What I want to see is the Scottish people and NHS staff become real partners - co owners - of the health service so that they can shape a truly responsive National Health Service which meets Scotland's needs for the next 60 years."
Andrew McLean, P6, Kelvindale Primary in Glasgow received the top prize of a Nintendo Wii Fit, cinema tickets and tickets to a Scotland football match.
Kelvindale Primary and Elder Park Primary in Glasgow received school prizes - £500 for sports equipment, footballs and bibs and exclusive coaching sessions by SFA trainers.