Scotland allocates £90 million to slash NHS waiting times and highlights leading care system

The Scottish Government has announced an extra £90 million for planned NHS care to cut long outpatient waiting lists and speed up scheduled procedures such as hip and knee replacements. First Minister John Swinney said the funding will help health boards reduce waits month‑on‑month and support initiatives like GP walk‑in services and Hospital at Home. The National Treatment Centre in Fife, which has delivered thousands of operations and tens of thousands of outpatient appointments, will receive direct investment to expand capacity.

Scotland’s adult social care system is also described as ahead of England’s, offering free personal care for adults assessed as needing it and spending around 36 % more per person than England. The model provides higher rates of state‑funded home and care‑home support and reduces means‑test barriers, though it still faces capacity and delayed‑discharge challenges similar to those in England.