NHS Ayrshire and Arran in Budget boost

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NHS Ayrshire and Arran is set for “record” funding after the latest Scottish Budget announcement for 2026-27.

The plan published yesterday, 13 January, by the Scottish Government outlined that NHS boards in Scotland will receive £17.6 billion in funding.

Ayrshire and Arran’s health board is included with an £88.2 million boost to its budget, with the total reaching £1.095 billion for 2026/27.

This stands at a 24% increase in a two-year period from £1.007 billion in the 2025/26 term.

Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, believes the record high increases for Scotland’s Health and Social care budgets are “excellent”.

He said: “This Budget provides £22.5 billion to deliver patient care, a reduced working week for NHS Staff, and supports the SNP Government’s commitment to fair pay settlements.

“Recognising the critical role that the social care sector plays in supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society, investment of over £2.3 billion in Social Care and integration exceeds the 2021 SNP Programme for government commitment to increaser spending by 25%.

“It also  provides an uplift to adult social care pay and supports delivery of improvements to wider terms and conditions for workers such as maternity and paternity pay.”

Gibson added that reducing NHS waiting times, improvements to GP access and walk-in service developments are key areas to address with the sector funding.

NHS Grampian, Lothian, and Greater Glasgow and Clyde are among the regional health boards to receive the highest rise in budgets.