Statement on the Scottish Election 2026 

Scotland’s health is dependent on dedicated action from new parliament, say ALLIANCE.

Following the Scottish Election 2026 result, Sara Redmond, Chief Officer, of the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), representing over 3,500 members across the health and social care sector, said:

“The incoming Scottish Parliament and Government faces serious, overlapping challenges within health and social care. Half of adults in Scotland live with a long term condition that with access to the right support and treatment could be treated or better managed. Hundreds of thousands of people are providing unpaid care. Yet ongoing pressure on public finance negatively impacts the delivery of essential public services and the third sector is stretched to breaking point. At the same time, our everyday rights are under increasing threat.

“The challenges Scotland faces are not insurmountable if we collectively rise to meet them.” 

The ALLIANCE and our members set out our key priorities in our manifesto for the election, ‘Our Collective Voice’. Amongst the issues the ALLIANCE has called for rapid progress on are:  

• Strengthening human rights in Scotland through a Human Rights Bill to ensure a Scotland where everyone can live with dignity. 
• Securing fair and sustainable funding for the essential work of third sector organisations, and recognition as equal partners in service design and delivery. 
• Improvements in standards, quality and consistency of social care to allow people to live independently where possible, and improve their quality of life. 
• Investing in prevention work, including improving the lives of those people living with long term health and mental health conditions, supporting people to realise their right to health and preventing them from reaching crisis point. 

Ms Redmond added: “We have a vision of Scotland as a human rights leader, with fair finances and an equitable economy. A Scotland where in equal partnership with the third sector, we renew social care and deliver public services for everyone, rooted in effective prevention, early intervention, and lifelong support.

“We can deliver meaningful improvements to people’s rights, health and wellbeing. The people of Scotland have spoken and put their trust in this new parliament, now is the time to get to work and make the positive changes they expect.”

The ALLIANCE is the national third sector membership organisation for the health and social care sector, representing over 3,500 members.

Members of the press, contact communications@alliance-scotland.org.uk

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