Health Secretary, Shona Robison, has confirmed that NHS Lothian will receive an additional £37.7 million in 2015-16.
This brings NHS Lothian’s general allocation increase to 3.2 per cent on 2014-15, bringing the board’s general allocation to more than £1.22 billion.
In addition to this, the Government’s announcement of £4.3 million for NHS Lothian in 2015-16 to tackle delays in discharging patients from hospital will be added to the board’s budget, bring the total uplift to 3.5 per cent.
Ms Robison said:
“The Scottish Government’s commitment to increasing NHS Lothian budget demonstrates our continuing investment in frontline health spending.
“This comes as Scotland’s total health spending reaches more than £12 billion for the first time ever.
“We’re clear that all patients in Lothian should be treated as quickly and as effectively as possible, with the right care, in the right place, at the right time. With this increase in funding, health boards are being given more support to achieve this.
“We know there is still pressures on the NHS and this Government is acting to deliver record funding and robust policies needed to support the hardworking and dedicated staff of our NHS.
“Tackling delayed discharge is an absolute key priority for this government and the £4.3 million for NHS Lothian in 2015-16 is crucial to this effort.
“Reducing delayed discharge not only helps individual patients, who benefit from getting home or to a homely setting as quickly as possible, but also helps ease pressure across the system.
“As we head towards the integration of health and social care this additional funding will also support work underway to transform care services which will get people who may be unnecessarily staying in hospital home or into a homely setting.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
