The NHS in Scotland will receive a £2 billion increase in funding next year under SNP Government spending plans.
Shona Robison, the Finance Secretary, announced draft Budget proposals today with a focus on easing the huge pressure on the health service.
She admitted the experience some patients were currently facing in Scotland “falls short of what we would expect”.
The veteran Nationalist told MSPs the £21 billion earmarked for health and social care in 2025/26 included a record £2 billion increase.
The Scottish Government has been repeatedly criticised for its handling of the NHS in the post-covid era after waiting times soared and A&E wards became overwhelmed.
But Robison insisted the extra cash would make a difference. She said: “We all know how important public services are to quality of life and the success of our nation, none more so than our Health Service.
“My biggest financial commitment today is to our NHS. Today’s budget provides a record £21 billion for health and social care. An increase of £2 billion for frontline NHS Boards – a record uplift.
“That is money that will make it easier for people to access GP appointments, that will improve A&E and ensure more Scots get the care they need in good time.
“There is no public service more important and there is no budget that has delivered a bigger vote of confidence in the NHS than this budget.”
Robison added: “We know that for many people their experience of the NHS is excellent. But for others, their experience falls short of what we would expect.
“I am today investing almost 200 million pounds in our plan to reduce waiting times and improve capacity, to reform the service and make it more efficient, and remove blockages that keep some patients in hospital far too long.
“Because of today’s record funding, our health service can reduce waiting times. By March 2026 no one will wait longer than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment, inpatient treatment or day case treatment.
“The extra funding we are providing will see over 150,000 extra patients treated as a result.
“Our record investment will also deliver additional support for GPs, targeted to address known pressures in relation to waiting times and prevention.
“It means we can deliver on our commitment to increase social care spending by 25 per cent over this parliament – a full two years earlier than planned.”
But the extra funding will only be handed to NHS health boards if MSPs vote in favour of the Budget in the New Year.
The SNP lacks a majority in the Scottish Parliament, meaning it must win support from at least one other party.
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