A major new organisation designed to accelerate transformation across Scotland’s health and care system – and the wider public sector – will launch on 1st April, the Scottish Government has confirmed.
Public Services Delivery Scotland will replace both NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), bringing their combined expertise together under one unified national body.
The new organisation will lead on workforce planning and development, service infrastructure, innovation, and digital transformation. By uniting the capabilities of NES and NSS, ministers aim to deliver safer, more consistent, and more efficient care for people across Scotland.
PSD Scotland is set to become a central driver of system‑wide reform. It will be responsible for:
- National workforce planning, skills development and training
- Leadership of Scotland’s digital transformation agenda across health and care
- Stewardship of service infrastructure and operational delivery
- Scaling national programmes at pace
- Continuing all services currently delivered by NES and NSS
For public sector leaders, the move represents one of the most significant structural changes since the creation of NHS Scotland’s special health boards.
Professor Karen Reid, currently Chief Executive of NES, has been appointed to lead the new organisation. She brings extensive experience in workforce development, quality improvement, leadership, and system reform. Her appointment provides continuity for staff and stakeholders, while supporting the rapid mobilisation of PSD Scotland ahead of its formal establishment in 2026. Commenting on her appointment, Reid said:
"It is a huge privilege to be appointed Chief Executive of Public Services Delivery Scotland as we embark on this transformative journey.
“By uniting expertise from NES and NSS, Public Services Delivery Scotland will empower our staff to deliver outstanding care and support, ensuring that services are both innovative and responsive to the needs of communities throughout Scotland.
“I'm truly excited to work collaboratively with our skilled and committed colleagues, both within the new organisation and beyond, to provide improved, high-quality health and social care services that are efficient, fair, and prepared for the future. Together, we will create a more sustainable, joined-up system that puts our people and communities at the heart of everything we do.”
A key priority for the new organisation will be delivering digital innovation across Scotland’s public services. This includes:
- Modernising digital infrastructure
- Supporting interoperability across health and care settings
- Accelerating the adoption of new technologies
- Enhancing data use to improve outcomes
Bringing workforce, operational and digital capabilities together under one body is intended to streamline decision‑making and reduce duplication at national level.
By integrating the functions of NES and NSS, PSD Scotland will aim to strengthen national capacity to deliver:
- Safe, high‑quality care
- More consistent service models across Scotland
- Efficiencies through shared national systems
- Improved support to local delivery partners
The change reflects the Scottish Government’s ambition for a more coordinated, sustainable health and care system capable of meeting rising demographic and financial pressures.
Neil Gray, Scottish Health Secretary, added:
“Establishing PSD Scotland is an important step in our journey towards transforming the health of the nation – supporting faster access and safer, more consistent services wherever people live.
“By bringing together national education, digital and support functions we will reduce duplication, scale what works, giving frontline teams more time with patients.
“This approach flows directly from our Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework, putting prevention, community-based support and digital innovation at the heart of how care is delivered.”
Although rooted in health and social care, PSD Scotland will have a remit extending into the wider public sector, reinforcing cross‑government collaboration on workforce, digital transformation, and service innovation.
For local authorities, integration authorities, education bodies and national agencies, the new organisation is expected to become a key partner in delivering whole‑system reform.
Image credit: iStock
