Scottish halth buirds are spendin mair on private ambulance services as budgets tichten, accordin tae new figures pit oot by UNISON. Data shaws that spendin by five NHS buirds rase fae £0.52 million in 2020/21 tae £1.34 million in 2024/25 – an increase o ower 150%. Whan figurs fae three additional buirds wur added, the total spendin for 2024/25 raxed £2.6 million. Union representatives warn that this figure is likely tae be considerably heicher due tae non-reportin fae sax mair buirds.
UNISON Scotland’s jynt lead for Halth, Matt McLaughlin, expressed deep concern aboot the risin costs, statin, “These figures shoud serve as a stark wauk-up caw for the Scottish government. These costs are likly tae be juist the tip o the iceberg tae.” McLaughlin continued, “Cash-strapped halth buirds shouldnae be spendin siller they can ill afford on privately awned ambulances. Insteid o wastin vast sums on thae firms an boostin the profits o their sharehauders, their scarce funds wid be better investit intae a properly funded Scottish Ambulance Service.” In his statement, he urged Cabinet Secretary for Halth Neil Gray tae “pit an immediate eyn tae private sector ambulances an focus on investment in NHS services insteid.”
The union’s concerns come as the Scottish Government annoonces an ambitious plan tae enhance NHS services. Halth Secretary Neil Gray unveiled the NHS Operational Improvement Plan, that is set tae invest an additional £200 million durin the 2025-26 Budget. Accordin tae the plan, the investment will create 150,000 extra appyntments an procedures designed tae reduce waitin times an develop a seeven-day service in radiology. Mobile scannin units, increased recruitment, an a commitment that 95% o referrals will be seen ithin sax weeks ower MRI, CT, ultrasound, an endoscopy procedures form pairt o thae measures.
Mairower, the government intends tae expand its Hospital at Hame initiative tae at least 2,000 beds by the eyn o 2026, a muive expected tae relieve pressure on acute hospitals. Staps tae enhance community care involve specialist frailty teams in ilka A&E department an the development o Flow Navigation Centres tae direct patients tae the appropriate services. Investment in primary care will further boost access tae doctors, dentists, optometrists, an community pharmacists. Additional fundin will support digital modernisation, wi the Digital Front Door app set for a national rowe-oot in 2026, follaein the initial launch in Lanarkshire.
The contrastin approaches pynt oot an ongaun debate ower the best yaise o funds in Scotland’s halth system. While the government focuses on expandin an modernisin NHS services, UNISON argues that redirectin funds awa fae private ambulance contracts tae a fully supported Scottish Ambulance Service wid address patient care challenges an staff burden in a mair sustainable wey.