News / Scottish boards get 5.5% boost

Health secretary Shona Robison said the overall funding increase of £500m would take health spending in 2016/17 to almost £13bn. The 14 territorial boards will receive revenue uplifts of between 4.5% (Shetland) and 6.6% (Grampian). Eight special health boards, which include arm’s length bodies such as National Services Scotland, will receive a total increase of 3.8%, with the ambulance service receiving the biggest rise (5.4%).

The funding for the integration of health and social care will be split between the new health and social care partnerships, launched in April.

Capital investment will increase by £292m to £495m, with £352m held centrally to support projects such as the new Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Sick Children. She said it would also allow work to begin on a network of diagnostic and elective treatment centres.

Ms Robison said the government was committed to transforming care.

‘The integration of health and social care is the most significant reform of our health and social care services since the creation of the NHS and our investment of £250m will help health and social care partnerships improve people’s experience of care,’ she added.