The Scottish Government has allocated an additional £25.5 million in funding for Scotland’s health boards to help deliver more planned care appointments and procedures, aiming to reduce long waits for patients across the country.
This latest investment brings the total additional funding for the NHS in Scotland to £135.5 million in 2025–26, supporting continued progress in tackling waiting lists and improving access to treatment.
The funding will enable health boards to increase capacity for outpatient appointments and inpatient/day case procedures across a range of specialties, including orthopaedics, dermatology, and gynaecology.
Recent data shows encouraging signs, with over 31,000 more appointments and procedures delivered between April and September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
The £25.5 million will be distributed among the following health boards:
- Ayrshire and Arran
- Fife
- Grampian
- Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- Highland
- Lanarkshire
- Lothian
- Shetland
- Tayside
Commenting on the funding, the Scottish First Minister said:
“The latest figures show our plan to support Scotland’s NHS is working, delivering real benefits for patients. We have already provided £110 million of additional targeted funding this year to tackle the longest waits. Now we are providing a further boost to deliver more appointments and procedures, taking the total additional funding to £135.5 million for 2025-26.
“I am determined to build on the progress being achieved by hardworking staff in our health service, like those I met today at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. We want to help them provide the care and treatment patients need and expect – and we are already seeing results.
“Not only are the total list size and longest waits coming down, but we are treating more people than last year. There is still work to be done, but these are very welcome improvements.
“Under my leadership, the people of Scotland can expect a strong National Health Service delivering patient care of the highest possible quality.”
This targeted support is designed to help boards expand clinical capacity, reduce patient backlogs, and improve outcomes across Scotland’s healthcare system.
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