Scottish Budget: 2023 to 2024

The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2023 to 2024, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.


Chapter 4 Health & Social Care

Portfolio Responsibilities

The allocation for the Health and Social Care portfolio budget for 2023-24 represents an increase of over £1 billion, providing funding at a level over and above our commitment to pass on all frontline consequentials. This government remains totally committed to the principles of a health service free at the point of need and supported by public funds.

The funding supports the continued recovery of the NHS and social care from the COVID-19 pandemic, drives investment and enables reform across all its services. It is designed to ensure that care and support is delivered when, how and where people need it. 

Key to our programme of investment and reform is the Scottish Government's continued determination to support and develop the people who deliver these services, with an aim of making sure that Scotland continues to be the best place for health and social care workers.

That is why the budget commits over £9 billion for our workforce, a package which underlines our continued investment in people. Our record pay deal offer of £515 million backs the largest workforce in Scotland during the ongoing cost crisis. As outlined in the Programme for Government, we will continue to provide support for the mental health and wellbeing of our highly valued health and social care staff. 

Overall, NHS Boards will be supported by over £13 billion, which will allow them to continue to drive forward our five-year Recovery Plan. The reform of key services will continue, backed by over £2 billion investment to establish and improve primary health care services in the community.

We will continue to back the crucial services that General Practices provide, supporting their work with the Primary Care Fund. This will deliver £170 million investment in multi-disciplinary teams and enable the development and expansion of Community Treatment and Care (CTAC) services. 

Our support for social care and integration, which receives over £1.7 billion in this budget, will improve services whilst paving the way for the introduction of the National Care Service. We are providing an additional £100 million to support delivery of the £10.90 real living wage for adult social care, building on the increase provided in 2022-23.

Mental health spending has almost doubled in cash terms since 2007. We will invest £290.2 million over the coming year to tackle CAMHS and psychological therapies, waiting times backlogs, and deliver improved community-based mental health and wellbeing support for children, young people and adults.

Our National Mission on drugs is supported this year by increased investment to £160 million, to reduce the avoidable harms associated with drugs and alcohol.

Health and Social Care

Table 4.01: Spending Plans (Level 2)
Level 2 Restated 2021-22 Budget Restated 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
Health and Social Care 17,215.2 18,020.5 19,138.2
Food Standards Scotland 19.5 23.0 23.0
Total Health and Social Care 17,234.7 18,043.5 19,161.2
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 16,332.9 17,106.7 18,176.4
of which Operating Costs 85.1 112.1 109.8
Non-cash 272.5 272.5 301.5
Capital 529.0 554.0 578.0
Financial Transactions (FTs) 10.0 5.0
UK Funded AME 100.4 100.4 100.4
Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval
Sportscotland (NDPB non-cash) (1.1) (1.1) (1.1)
Social Care (NDPB non-cash) (0.2) (0.2) (0.2)
Food Standards Scotland – shown separately (19.5) (23.0) (23.0)
PPP/PFI Adjustments 21.0 21.0 21.0
Total Health and Social Care 17,234.9 18,040.3 19,157.9
Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) 3,000.0
Table 4.02: Health and Social Care Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 Restated 2021-22 Budget Restated 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
NHS Territorial Boards 10,894.4 11,508.6 12,132.0
NHS National Boards 1,345.9 1,422.6 1,530.1
Health Capital Investment 549.0 574.0 598.0
Education and Training 316.8 402.7 407.1
General Medical Services 1,116.8 1,162.8 1,205.8
Pharmaceutical Services 206.1 216.2 221.7
General Dental Services 431.0 469.0 476.2
Community Eyecare 111.7 125.5 121.6
Outcomes Framework 74.1 74.1 74.1
Health Improvement and Protection 59.5 85.6 87.1
Alcohol and Drugs Policy 84.2 85.4 99.0
Mental Health Services 273.9 290.2 290.2
Quality and Improvement 38.0 66.3 61.2
Digital Health and Care 112.5 112.9 112.9
Early Years 53.4 58.9 58.9
COVID-19 Funding and Other Services 925.5 9.5 252.1
National Care Service / Adult Social Care 395.4 1,137.1 1,199.0
Revenue Consequences of NPD 98.0 75.0 75.0
Sportscotland 33.7 34.7 34.7
Active, Healthy Lives 15.4 19.4 16.5
NHS Impairments (AME) 100.0 100.0 100.0
Financial Transactions 10.0 5.0
Capital Receipts (20.0) (20.0) (20.0)
Total Health and Social Care 17,215.2 18,020.5 19,138.2
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 16,313.9 17,084.3 18,153.9
Non-cash 272.3 272.3 301.3
Capital 529.0 554.0 578.0
FTs 10.0 5.0
UK Funded AME 100.0 100.0 100.0
Table 4.03: Food Standards Scotland Spending (Level 3)
Level 3 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
Administration 19.5 23.0 23.0
Total Food Standards Scotland 19.5 23.0 23.0
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 19.0 22.5 22.5
Non-cash 0.2 0.2 0.2
Capital
FTs
UK Funded AME 0.4 0.4 0.4
Table 4.04: Territorial and National Boards Spending Plans (Level 4)
Level 4 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
Territorial Boards
NHS Ayrshire and Arran 774.5 806.8 850.2
NHS Borders 222.7 234.8 248.6
NHS Dumfries and Galloway 320.6 334.1 352.2
NHS Fife 712.6 749.4 790.8
NHS Forth Valley 569.4 598.1 631.1
NHS Grampian 1,027.9 1,072.2 1,129.9
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2,398.1 2,504.0 2,639.4
NHS Highland 691.9 725.6 768.2
NHS Lanarkshire 1,286.1 1,346.8 1,424.1
NHS Lothian 1,569.5 1,639.3 1,743.3
NHS Orkney 54.8 57.1 60.2
NHS Shetland 54.6 57.0 60.1
NHS Tayside 819.9 856.5 912.2
NHS Western Isles 81.1 84.5 89.0
Total 10,583.7 11,066.1 11,699.2
National Boards
National Waiting Times Centre 60.9 68.1 75.8
Scottish Ambulance Service 283.7 305.9 334.2
The State Hospital 38.1 40.0 42.5
NHS 24 73.8 78.4 90.7
NHS Education for Scotland 471.7 492.3 517.6
NHS National Services Scotland 341.4 355.3 378.6
Healthcare Improvement Scotland 27.5 30.4 33.6
Public Health Scotland 48.6 52.1 56.9
Total 1,345.9 1,422.6 1,530.1
Improving Outcomes and Reform 241.3 373.0 363.3
Other Income 69.5 69.5 69.5
Total Territorial and National Boards 12,240.4 12,931.2 13,662.1

Health and Social Care intended contributions to the National Outcomes

Primary National Outcomes

  • Health
  • Children and Young People
  • Human Rights

Secondary National Outcomes

  • Poverty
  • Communities
  • Education
  • Economy
  • Fair Work and Business
  • Environment

For further information on the purpose of the portfolio budget, and contributions to national outcomes (including impacts of spend on equality of outcome) please refer to the relevant portfolio annex in the published Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.

Contact

Email: ScottishBudget@gov.scot

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