Scottish halth buirds are spendin mair on private ambulance services as budgets tichten, accordin tae new figures released by UNISON. Data shaws aat spendin by five NHS buirds rase fae £0.52 million in 2020/21 tae £1.34 million in 2024/25 – an increase ower 150%. Fan figures fae three additional buirds wir added, e total spendin for 2024/25 raxed £2.6 million. Union representatives warn aat iss 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 e risin costs, statin, “Iss figures should serve as a stark wauk-up caa for e Scottish government. Iss costs are likely tae be jist e tip o the iceberg tae.” McLaughlin continued, “Cash-strapped halth buirds shouldna be spendin siller they can ill afford on privately ained ambulances. Insteid o wastin vast sums on thae firms an boostin e profits o their sharehaaders, their scarce funds wid be better invested 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.”

E union’s concerns come as e Scottish Government annoonces an ambitious plan tae enhance NHS services. Halth Secretary Neil Gray unveiled e NHS Operational Improvement Plan, fit is set tae invest an additional £200 million durin e 2025-26 Budget. Accordin tae the plan, e investment will create 150,000 extra appyntments an procedures designed tae reduce waitin times an develop a seiven-day service in radiology. Mobile scannin units, increased recruitment, an a commitment aat 95% o referrals will be seen ithin sax wikks ower MRI, CT, ultrasound, an endoscopy procedures form pairt o these measures.

Mairower, e 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 e development o Flow Navigation Centres for tae direct fowk 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, follaed by the initial laanch in Lanarkshire.

E contrastin approaches pynt oot an ongaan debate ower e best eese o funds in Scotland’s halth system. Fyle the government focuses on expandin an modernisin NHS services, UNISON argues aat 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.