Waiting list funding - Letter to the Convener of Health, Care and Sport Committee
- Published
- 8 October 2026
- Topic
- Health and social care
Health Secretary Angela Constance outlines allocation of £90 million funding by health board and specialty.
To: Convener of the Health, Care and Sport Committee Helen McDade
From: Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care Angela Constance
Dear Convener
On 28 July 2026, the First Minister announced that £90 million of dedicated funding will be allocated to territorial Health Boards in 2026-27 to support those waiting the longest for treatment and to help create more capacity within our wider healthcare system. This is in addition to the £100 million funding this year to build on the progress made in the 2025-26 NHS Operational Improvement Plan.
At the end of August 2026, around 97.2% of patients waiting for a new outpatient appointment and around 89.8% of patients waiting for inpatient or day-case treatment had been waiting less than 52 weeks. These figures reflect the substantial reductions delivered in long waits over the last year. The direction of travel is positive, but there is more work to do.
I am now in the position to provide further details on how the £90 million investment has been targeted to support the delivery of planned care across Scotland and to the specialities where it is expected have the biggest impact on reducing the longest waits.
Table 1 shows the breakdown of funding by NHS Board and Table 2 shows the breakdown of funding by speciality.
Please note, a ten per cent funding margin has been factored into plans to ensure NHS Boards are able to maximise delivery within agreed timescales. However, final delivery will fall within the available £90 million, with NHS Boards continuously monitoring performance and manging underspends throughout the year.
Table 1: Breakdown by Health Board
Health Board
Total 26-27
£000
NHS Ayrshire & Arran
6,344
NHS Borders
1,876
NHS Dumfries & Galloway
1,170
NHS Fife
6,818
NHS Forth Valley
4,926
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
20,491
NHS Golden Jubilee
1,958
NHS Grampian
9,705
NHS Highland
8,352
NHS Lanarkshire
3,562
NHS Lothian
17,400
NHS Orkney
287
NHS Shetland
95
NHS Tayside
16,233
NHS Western Isles
0
Grand Total
99,217
Table 2 : Breakdown by specialty
Specialty
Total 26-27
£000
Anaesthetics
500
Breast
238
Cardiology
224
Clinical Neurophysiology
225
Community Child Health
88
Dermatology
3,910
Diagnostics
130
Endocrinology
360
Endoscopy
296
ENT
2,495
Gastroenterology
610
General Surgery
6,110
Gynaecology & General Surgery
272
Gynaecology
17,246
Imaging
517
Neurology & Neurosurgery
537
National Treatment Centre activity
1,958
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
743
Ophthalmology
4,049
Oral Surgery
108
Orthopaedics
21,714
Other Additional Activity (includes enabling costs and support for all activities)
27,983
Paediatrics
19
Pain Management
16
Plastic Surgery
955
Physiological measurement
63
Respiratory
471
Rheumatology
492
Theatres - Day of Surgery Admissions Unit
100
Urology
6,699
Vascular (surgical)
88
Total
99,217
The funding assigned to NHS Boards is subject to performance review by Scottish Government officials and will be proactively managed based on the areas of greatest need. The Scottish Government may move funding between Boards and specialities throughout the year, subject to progress.
I trust this information provides the committee with reassurance of the Scottish Government’s ongoing determination to accelerate delivery and eradicate long waits.
Yours sincerely,
ANGELA CONSTANCE