Health board efficiency savings information: FOI release

Information requested

Information for all health boards, for the years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.

1) The planned level of savings and actual amount delivered, in both £ terms and as a % of baseline revenue resource limit.

2) The £ share for planned and actual recurrent and non-recurrent savings.

3) For 25-26, please provide the planned figures only.

4) Please also provide the same information for NHS Scotland as a whole.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested.

For points 1), 2), and 4) of your request, all information pertaining to years 2023-24 can be otherwise accessed. Section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) exempts information from disclosure where the requester can obtain the information without asking for it under FOISA. We have provided a link to currently accessible information pertaining to your question. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

The information you requested, that is otherwise accessible, can be found via the Audit Scotland website (within their NHS in Scotland 2024 report).

For all points relating to years 2024-25 and 2025-26 we are unable to provide the information you have requested. This is because an exemption under section s.30(b)(i) (Free and frank provision of advice) of FOISA applies to the information requested.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and that there is likely interest in NHS Board savings information to inform public debate.

However, there is a greater public interest in high quality discussions and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of these decisions. To enable this, Ministers and NHS Board officials must have a private space to provide free and frank advice, and be able to debate those rigorously to fully understand their possible implications.

Disclosing this information will affect Ministers and officials’ candour if discussions on NHS Board financing could be disclosed in the near future, and may undermine or constrain the Government’s view while it is still under discussion and development. In addition, disclosing the content of free and frank advice on this matter will substantially inhibit the provision of such advice in the future, particularly because these discussions are still ongoing, and relate to work to support policy decision making.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.