Adam welcomes budget commitment to health and social care
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“SUBSTANTIAL support” for the north-east’s health and social care services is contained in the Scottish budget, a local MSP has stated.
Banffshire and Buchan Coast SNP MSP Karen Adam MSP has said that the Scottish Government is determined to act within its limited powers to mitigate the damage of Westminster austerity.
The Scottish Budget saw £19.5 billion allocated to the health and social care portfolio in 2024-25.
This uplift exceeds Barnett Consequentials for health – which are less than they were for 2023-24 and represents a real-terms increase in funding of 4.3 per cent, or £550 million.
Meanwhile, she said the Westminster budget saw further tax cuts at the expense of public services, no additional capital funding and baked-in cuts which are reminiscent of austerity. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has subsequently warned that the NHS is facing the biggest real-terms cuts since the 1970s as spending plans imply a real-terms cut to net public sector investment of £18 billion between 2024–25 and 2028–29.
Ms Adam said: “The SNP Scottish budget set out to support people and our local health and social care services amid very challenging economic circumstances.
“In stark contrast, the latest Tory budget was a betrayal of Scotland’s NHS, with the Chancellor prioritising tax cuts and doing nothing to address the pressures facing frontline services.
“With the limited powers it has, the SNP Scottish Government is determined to protect health
services, social care providers and those providing that care in our community; providing a real-
terms increase in funding which takes the total to over £19 billion for the year ahead.
“This extra investment in local services makes the Tory and Liberal Democrat political decision to close Minor Injury Units in Peterhead and Fraserburgh unnecessary. It’s a decision based on ideology rather than need.
“While the SNP protect local services with an above inflation investment in our health service, the Tories vote to reduce our vital local services.”
