Following the publication of the Scottish Government’s budget for 2025/26, Health Secretary Neil Gray has outlined how the budget will prioritise patients and improvement across the NHS.
The draft Budget outlines a historic investment of £21 billion in health and social care, aimed at ensuring faster, more accessible care by enhancing capacity and addressing systemic challenges such as delayed discharge. This unprecedented funding commitment builds on ongoing efforts to tackle the NHS's challenges and improve healthcare outcomes for all Scots.
The Budget sets forth several critical measures designed to create a more responsive and effective health service:
- Reducing NHS Waiting Lists: A significant focus will be on cutting waiting times, enabling patients to receive essential treatments and procedures more swiftly.
- Improved Access to GPs: Expanded primary care services and additional resources will make it easier for people to see their GP, enhancing overall access to healthcare.
- New Hospital Projects: Progress will continue on new hospitals, including the Belford, replacement Monklands, and Edinburgh Eye Pavilion, which are set to deliver state-of-the-art care and increased capacity.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said:
“We are determined to drive improvements in our NHS and deliver the best possible service for patients. But I know that some people are waiting too long and finding it difficult to get appointments – we have listened and we are taking action. That is what people can expect from this government.
“The measures we set out in the Budget would mean quicker treatments, more GP appointments, and world-class facilities for people across Scotland.
“By March 2026, no-one will wait longer than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment, inpatient treatment or day case treatment with more than 150,000 extra patients treated as a result.
“The Budget also delivers investment to tackle delayed discharge, one of the biggest challenges facing the NHS, and to expand the Hospital at Home service giving thousands of patients the care they need at home while freeing up hospital beds for those who need them most.
“With initiatives like these, we will build a modern, resilient NHS that delivers for everyone by providing innovative and effective care.
“But we will only be able to deliver these transformational investments and drive further improvements for patients if our Budget is agreed. Our NHS needs this Budget to pass – and I am urging Parliament to unite behind it.”
To combat delayed discharge and further reduce waiting lists, the Budget allocates £200 million to expand the innovative 'Hospital at Home' service. This initiative allows more patients to receive high-quality care at home, reducing the need for hospital admissions and alleviating pressure on hospital beds.
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