Scottish Government publishes NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 1st April 2025
NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan sets out actions to improve aspects of healthcare delivery.
The Scottish Government has published the operational improvement plan for NHS Scotland, detailing actions to improve specific aspects of NHS Scotland delivery to build on NHS board planning for 2025-26.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, announced that the plan focuses on four critical areas that the Government is committed to delivering, to help protect the quality and safety of care, supported by the increased investment for health and social care in the 2025-26 Scottish Budget. These critical areas are:
- improving access to treatment
- shifting the balance of care
- improving access to health and social care services through digital and technological innovation
- prevention – ensuring we work with people to prevent illness and more proactively meet their needs
The plan also outlines policy commitments such as a seven-day service in radiology, expansion of Hospital at Home and national rollout of the Digital Front Door app.
On a visit to Kirklands Hospital’s Flow Navigation Centre to launch the plan, Neil Gray said:
“This plan details how the Scottish Government will deliver a more accessible NHS, with reductions to long-waits and the pressures we currently see. It shows how we will use the £21.7 billion health and social care investment in the 2025-26 Budget to deliver significant improvements for patients.”
To develop the plan, the Government engaged with NHS staff and professional bodies, demonstrating the need for increased investment in the workforce. As well as the increases to boards’ core budgets for 2025-26, much of the additional investment, such as the £100 million for waiting times, is targeted for extra recruitment, with promises made to boards to provide recurring funding. Engagement will be built upon in the implementation phase of the plan.
In January, First Minister, John Swinney, described plans to renew the health service and deliver the change that people in Scotland need. This Operational Improvement Plan is the first document, followed by the population health framework and a health and social care service renewal framework. As a result, this is the first of 3 documents on the Government’s approach to health and social care renewal.
Together, these plans are intended to progress reform to ensure long-term sustainability, reduce health inequalities, further harness the benefits of digital technology, and improve population health outcomes in Scotland. They will set out how the Scottish Government will plan services for the population over the short, medium and longer term.
End of page.
You may also like:
Have your say in the draft 'Quality prescribing for Chronic Pain: a guide for improvement 2026-2029'.
Continue reading70% of disabled women reported feeling worse off financially compared to last year.
Continue readingA partnership of organisations including the ALLIANCE have issued an open statement on what's needed to urgently tackle health inequalities.
Continue readingA new plan to make sure everyone in Scotland gets the right care and support at the end of life
Continue readingNew research has highlighted the significant financial and social challenges faced by people living with Long COVID across Scotland.
Continue readingThe amendment aims to close a loophole that leaves people in outsourced mental health care without guaranteed human rights protections.
Continue readingThe resources come from a partnership between the ALLIANCE, Public Health Scotland, and the University of Strathclyde.
Continue readingThe research explores the experiences of people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) navigating the welfare benefits system.
Continue readingPublic Health Scotland is consulting on its new 10-year strategy.
Continue readingTwo years after the Independent Review of Audiology Services in Scotland, the ALLIANCE asks: Where are we?
Continue readingSPSO updates complaints handling principles to support a positive, learning-focused culture around raising and resolving complaints.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE welcomes the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland’s publication of the Seldom-Heard Groups Action Plan 2025-26.
Continue readingPHS are looking for input into their strategy for the next ten years, which will aim to support increasing life expectancy.
Continue readingThe report recommends changes and improvements to Adult Disability Payment including reforming the 50% and 20 metre rules.
Continue readingA balance between overarching and condition-specific actions must be underpinned by a human rights based approach.
Continue readingAn independent analysis of over 100 responses to the Scottish Government consultation has been published.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE responds to a Scottish Government consultation on draft guidance for teachers
Continue readingThe paper sets out the Government's thoughts on the proposed Human Rights Bill.
Continue readingProposals to cut disability payments and a lack of consideration for devolution are amongst the serious issues in the plans.
Continue readingThe Scottish Government has recognised a formal definition of Deafblindness.
Continue readingQualifications Scotland must think about the needs of pupils who use British Sign Language.
Continue readingThe Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is seeking views from both organisations and people with lived experience.
Continue readingMore than 100 charities unite to say Scottish MPs must stand against social security cuts.
Continue readingALLIANCE survey finds people are facing multiple barriers accessing SDS
Continue readingThe plan is intended to improve the lives of disabled people and put their experiences and concerns at the heart of policymaking.
Continue reading