Improving patient experience

People will get appointments quicker and receive treatment sooner in Scotland’s health service, as a result of the Scottish Government’s Budget.

The record £21 billion funding allocated to Health and Social Care will help ensure the journey from diagnosis to treatment to aftercare is as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

If approved by the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Budget 2025-26 aims to:

• enable patients to get treated faster by increasing appointment capacity and cutting waiting times
• help people to live healthier lifestyles by supporting GPs to deliver more services aimed at preventing illness
• transfer patients from hospital into more appropriate settings quicker with an additional 600 Hospital at Home beds
• improve the availability of procedures where backlogs exist such as hip replacements
• allow more people to be treated closer to home with more resources in the community

Visiting the Linlithgow Medical Practice in West Lothian Health Secretary Neil Gray emphasised the difference the funding would make to patients:

“Most of the stories I hear about people’s experience of the NHS are positive, thanks to the dedication and empathy of health and social care staff across the country.

“But I know some people are waiting too long and finding appointments hard to come by. We want everyone to have a positive experience of the NHS, so we have listened and are taking action.

“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.

“This Budget will also deliver an additional 600 Hospital at Home Beds, helping people to get out of hospital when they are ready and supporting them with the care they need at home whilst freeing up capacity.

“I am determined that every penny of the record £21 billion allocated to health and social care helps make each patient’s experience as smooth as possible at what can be a worrying time.

“We want to improve our NHS, but to do that Parliament must approve our Budget Bill to unlock investment to drive long-term and lasting improvements – and the healthier population that we all want to see.”

Background

Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026 - gov.scot