Record £18 billion for health and social care

Scotland’s Budget is providing record funding to health and social care, including £12.9 billion for health boards to support patient services and ensure frontline funding increases by at least £2.5 billion by 2026-27.

This will be part of a total £18 billion allocated to the sector as it faces up to the continued challenges of COVID-19.

To retain care workers and support better pay and conditions, local government will be required to deliver a £10.50 minimum hourly rate for adult social care workers in commissioned services, in line with the public sector pay policy.

The Budget also provides:

• more than £1.6 billion for social care and integration to lay the groundwork for the National Care Service
• over £1.2 billion for mental health services
• £147.6 million to address drug deaths and tackle harms from alcohol
• £554 million to health infrastructure, expanding Scotland’s network of National Treatment Centres

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said:

“Investment in our health and social care services is central to Scotland’s recovery from COVID-19 - and to ensuring we properly recognise and reward the hardworking staff and carers who have gone over and above to make sure we are all cared for when we need it most.  

“Our priority for social care is the creation of the National Care Service, but this Budget ensures we do not wait for the service to come into being to continue to drive up standards and quality.  

“This Budget will ensure everyone continues to get the care they need, while repaying the efforts of those who are looking after us all.

“We will support services to deliver care – either physical or mental – in a way that works best for patients, while addressing the health inequalities our society faces, which unfortunately have been exacerbated by the pandemic.”

Background 

The Scottish Budget for health and social care can be read in full here.

The Scottish Government is investing Barnett consequentials in full, with additional spend in excess of £1 billion in health and social care.

Over 50% of frontline spend will go towards community health services, delivering on a commitment to increase primary care funding by 25% over this Parliament, providing more care for people in a place and in a way that meets their needs.

Direct investment in mental health has increased to £290 million, and with additional funding in services from money being allocated to health boards this will be in excess of £1.2 billion.

Wider investment in social care will also see an additional £25 million for social work capacity, £50 million investment in Fair Work for adult social care staff, £40 million investment in Multi-Disciplinary teams, and £5 million to support a right to respite for unpaid carers.