NHS Grampian faces the prospect of being short-changed by the Scottish Government again next year – despite growing concern about cancelled operations and staff recruitment.
The health board is poised to receive as much as £15.1million less in 2017-18 than analysts believe it should, despite sky-high agency staff bills and reports that services are overstretched.
Last year, NHS Grampian was underfunded by £12.2million, which prompted criticism from any in the north east.
The revelation, which comes amid claims the health board has failed to act on a “damning report” into its services, has drawn outrage from local politicians, who said such a move would “beggar belief”.
Yesterday, the Press and Journal revealed a nursing staff crisis had led to the health board cancelling 160 operations in the past two months, including at least 13 since the beginning of January.
The Scottish Government said last night it had an additional £50million to distribute across Scotland’s health boards – which they insisted would bring NHS Grampian more closely in line with recommended funding levels.
But Alexander Burnett, Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, said: “Audit Scotland cut through the SNP spin and clearly showed last year that NHS Grampian was underfunded to the tune of £12million.
“It beggars belief to think this year’s allocation could be even worse.
“Given the warnings yesterday about cancelled operations and looming budget pressures to replace ageing medical equipment, the health board cannot afford to be short-changed by the SNP again.”
According to the Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2017-18, NHS Grampian will receive £899.4million.
But the National Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) believes the board is entitled to 9.85% of the administration’s NHS spend – which means NHS Grampian should receive £914.5million.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman responded: “The Draft Budget does not include the Board’s share of £50 million of additional NRAC funding which, subject to parliamentary approval, will be confirmed as part of the 2017-18 Budget Bill.
“This additional NRAC funding will move all boards, including NHS Grampian, to at least 1% from parity as committed by this government.
“The additional NRAC funding NHS Grampian receives in 2017-18 will be on top of NRAC parity funding of £29.0 million in 2015-16 and a further £15.0 million in 2016-17.”
In response to the claims about cancelled operations, NHS Grampian maintained it provided a “high standard” of care to patients.
