The Scottish Government Budget will prioritise patients and drive
improvements to the NHS, Health Secretary has said.
If approved by parliament, the 2025/26 Budget will deliver record
health and social care funding of £21 billion to ensure faster,
more accessible care by improving capacity and tackling systemic
challenges like delayed discharge.
This builds on ongoing efforts to address the NHS' challenges and
improve healthcare for all to create a more responsive, effective
health service with earlier intervention, ensuring better
outcomes for patients throughout Scotland.
Key measures set out in the draft Budget include:
- reducing NHS waiting lists, by cutting waiting times so
patients can receive vital treatments and procedures more quickly
- improved access to GPs with expanded primary care services
and additional resources to make it easier for people to see
their GP
- progress set to continue on new hospitals, including the
Belford, replacement Monklands, and Edinburgh Eye Pavilion, which
will deliver state-of-the-art care and greater capacity
To address delayed discharge and reduce waiting lists, £200
million has been allocated in the 2025-26 Budget. If approved by
parliament, this funding will expand the innovative 'Hospital at
Home' service, allowing more patients to receive high-quality
care at home instead of being admitted to a hospital.
Health Secretary 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.”
Background
Record investment to
support health & social care - gov.scot
Delayed Discharge, £100m to
improve patient flow
