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NHS Grampian funding problems stretch back years

Former Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in 2008 accepted review recommendations to close NHS Grampian funding gap.
Former Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in 2008 accepted review recommendations to close NHS Grampian funding gap.

Health services in Grampian have been under-funded compared to the rest of Scotland for years.

Money was originally allocated using the Arbuthnott Formula, introduced in 2001, and took into account factors such as population, deprivation and remoteness.

Unrest over the way NHS Grampian was being treated contributed to a review in 2007, following which it was agreed that things had to change.

In February 2008, then-health secretary Nicola Sturgeon accepted all the recommendations of the National Resource Allocation Committee, which were designed to close the funding gap.

At the time it was agreed that the move towards the new formula would be phased-in over an unspecified number of years with no board receiving less funding.

However, opposition MSPs accuse the Scottish Government of failing to keep its promises and point out NHS Grampian receives about £30million a year less on average than other boards.

North-east Labour MSP Richard Baker said: “There can be no doubt that chronic under-funding of NHS Grampian by the Scottish Government is contributing significantly to the problems our health board faces in recruiting medical staff.”

Regional Tory MSP Nanette Milne said: “The under-funding of NHS Grampian by this SNP government has been an ongoing issue for a number of years.

“The resource allocation formula has favoured central belt health boards since its inception and steps are now being taken to reach a more equitable financial settlement across Scotland.”

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: “NHS Grampian has an agreed plan to move within 1% of parity by 2017-18 and we welcome the support of the Scottish Government in achieving this outcome.

“NHS Grampian will continue to receive further allocations of funding, in addition to the baseline increase available to all territorial boards, during 2015-16 and 2016-17.

“This will enable the board to further invest in priority areas for the benefit of patients across Grampian in line with the commitments in our local delivery plan.”