30 November 2008
NHS Tayside Health Budget indicative budget to rise by less than 1 per cent in real terms.
Marlyn Glen revealed today that the indicative allocation from the SNP Government to NHS Tayside for its revenue budget in the next financial year shows an increase in real terms of only £2 million.
This is equivalent to an increase of less than half of one per cent of the allocation in real terms.
Ms. Glen said,
"These preliminary figures, even at this early stage, are a source of concern for their impact upon frontline services in the health service in Tayside.
" The real terms increase of less than one per cent will not keep up with impact on cost such as the needs of a growing ageing population and advances in medical science and technology."
Figures released to Ms. Glen by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) show that the 2008-09 budget for NHS Tayside was £566.4 million.
Next year’s draft budget is set at £568.5 million in real terms, representing an increase of £2.1 million or 0.4 per cent.
Ms. Glen commented,
"The Board may receive funding from other budget headings next year.
"However, the new NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee ( NRAC ) is to be introduced by the SNP Government then.
"This new formula will be phased in , but if it had reached its final stage of the phase-in next year , NHS Tayside would be losing the equivalent of over £10 million a year."