This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Health spending to rise by almost 50 per cent
18/04/2002
The Budget means Scotland has a once in a lifetime
opportunity to invest in health and health care in
Scotland, First Minister Jack McConnell told the Scottish
Parliament today.
He was speaking after a special Cabinet meeting decided
to commit expenditure increases amounting to £3.2 billion
over the next five years to improving the health
service.
"We have the freedom to decide how that money should be
spent," Mr MConnell said. "This is the key strength of the
devolution settlement. We are guaranteed a fair share of
additional public spending with the freedom to tailor it to
meet Scottish needs.
"Most attention has rightly been focused on the
Chancellor's announcement on the future of the NHS. We have
made it clear that health is one of our top priorities and
I welcome the Chancellor's decision to make health the
centrepiece of his Budget.
"The benefits to Scotland will be as follows:
£224 million in 2003-04
£858 million in 2004-05
£1.576 billion in 2005-06
£2.341 billion in 2006-07
£3.201 billion in 2007-08
"When Cabinet met this morning we agreed to allocate
these consequentials on health spending to health. We will
set ougt the detailed allocations in September. This is a
massive step change in investment, an increase of almost 50
per cent over the next five years.
"I make no apology for the additional levels of health
spending in Scotland. It reflects the additional health
needs of the Scottish population.
"We have been presented with a once in a lifetime
opportunity to invest in health and health care in
Scotland. We will seize that opportunity. With investment
will come reform and results. These resources will deliver
the step change in the health of our people that we
desperately need. We have been presented with a fantastic
opportunity to make a difference."
Full text of
First Minister's statement on the Budget
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm, in his post budget
statement, welcomed the the Cabinet's decision to commit
the full consequentials on health spending for the 3-year
Spending Review period - and the following two years to
improving the health of the people of Scotland.
He said:
"Work will now begin on how to translate extra resources
into real improvements in Scotland's health and health
services. Tackling key underlying challenges like the
capacity of the NHS in terms of people, the need to embrace
new ways of working, and breaking the cycle of ill health
that has dogged the Scottish population will all be part of
that."
The Minister identified three key issues that will be at
the heart of the Executive's programme of modernisation and
reform of the NHS:
- Accountability and governance
- Reduction of waiting times
- Greater choice for patients
Mr Chisholm concluded his statement by commenting on
speculation in the media on the future of the HCI private
hospital in Clydebank.
He said:
"Discussions have taken place with HCI and other bodies
about how best to take that forward. If and when new
developments on raising capacity for the NHS are confirmed,
I will have no hesitation in telling both the public and
Parliament about them. Rightly, and at this stage, these
discussions are bound by commercial confidentiality and we
for one will respect that. "
Full text of the
Health Minister's statement on the budget.