The SNP has slashed winter resilience funding for the Scottish NHS, new figures highlighted by local MSP Jackie Baillie have revealed.

Just £5 million is being made available to local NHS boards as part of winter resilience funding this year, down from £12 million last year. 

This year’s allocation has been slashed by £462,993 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde while the funding in NHS Highland is down by £133,144.

The SNP government initially offered £9 million in 2016, but consistent Labour pressure led to an additional £3 million for the Scottish NHS. 

The cut of £7 million comes at a time of crisis for the NHS, with the latest board papers in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde revealing soaring waiting times for orthopaedic surgery, missed targets for cancer referrals and other key services under pressure.

Jackie said:

“It is extremely disappointing to see the winter resilience funding slashed by over £100,000 in NHS Highland and almost £500,000 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“Local NHS services are already under pressure and waiting times have continued to rise throughout the summer months. Every year when the winter weather kicks in there is a surge in demand and our NHS will struggle to cope unless it gets the funding it needs.

“We know that health boards and NHS staff are working hard to put in place robust winter resilience plans but how are they going to manage with even less money from the SNP Government?

“Shona Robison must rethink this cut and provide the funding necessary to allow our doctors and nurses to treat patients this winter.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

• On September 21st 2016 the Scottish Government announced “Health boards across Scotland are sharing an additional £9 million this year for emergency departments, hospitals and primary and social care teams to get ready for winter” https://news.gov.scot/news/9-million-commitment-to-emergency-care
• On November 22nd 2016 after pressure from Scottish Labour, the Scottish Government announced “An additional £3 million is being allocated to local NHS boards to help support their preparations for winter” https://beta.gov.scot/news/extra-3m-to-support-nhs-winter-plans/
• The SNP government announced on 5 October 2017 “An additional £5 million is being given to NHS boards to support winter resilience across health and social care” https://news.gov.scot/news/gbp-5m-more-to-support-nhs-winter-plans
• In 2015 the Scottish Government announced “Investment of £10.7 million will help ease pressure on Scotland’s NHS across the winter months”.   https://beta.gov.scot/news/funding-for-winter/

Winter resilience funding announced by the Scottish Government