Scotland's Finance Secretary has declined to guarantee the delivery of five promised National Treatment Centres, casting significant doubt over a flagship policy intended to tackle lengthy NHS waiting lists.
Budget Announcement Omits Key Projects
The Scottish Government's newly published infrastructure pipeline, released alongside Tuesday's Budget, notably excluded the five paused centres. No timescale was provided for any future decision on whether the projects would proceed or when they might become operational.
The centres were originally proposed to increase surgical capacity and improve efficiency, but funding issues led to their suspension in 2024. The pipeline document stated only that the need for the facilities would be "re-assessed" based on the wider national situation.
A Shift in Strategy Towards 'Repurposing'
Speaking after the Budget, Finance Secretary Shona Robison suggested a strategic shift. She indicated that future elective care capacity might not come from new buildings but from ring-fencing space within existing hospitals or re-purposing current facilities.
"That doesn't necessarily mean new buildings, it's about delivering services in a different way," Ms Robison told journalists. She explained that Health and Social Care Secretary Neil Gray is now leading a national review to plan investment "where it's actually needed," rather than based on individual health board requests.
When pressed to guarantee that the five additional centres would be built, Ms Robison refused to do so. She emphasised work was underway to create a more "strategic" national infrastructure plan for the NHS.
Political Backlash and Accusations of Failure
The move has sparked fierce criticism from political opponents. Scottish Labour's deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, accused SNP ministers of having "completely ditched" the plans after years of delay.
"The National Treatment Centre programme has been beset by delays from day one," Ms Baillie stated. "More than £36 million has already been spent on NTCs that have not been delivered, and this now looks like even more money down the drain."
She concluded that it was patients who would "bear the brunt" of the government's failure to deliver on its promises, labelling it an administration that "opts to govern by press release."
