Scottish Government

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NHS capital funding allocations

10/03/2008

Capital funding of £525 million for NHS facilities and the upgrade of equipment and IT systems was announced today.

Health boards across Scotland will share £324 million for 2008-09 to build new fit-for-purpose facilities and to improve existing facilities.

The rest of the £525 million will be spent on specific projects in areas such as e-health, primary care and primary and community care premises. The Scottish Ambulance Service will buy new ambulances and defibrillators.

Boards' formula allocations are planned to rise to £329 million in 2009-10 and £334 million in 2010-11, while the overall capital resource is planned to increase to £553 million and £598 million respectively over the same period.

The total investment over the three-year period is £1.6 billion.

Among the projects to benefit are two in NHS Highland - a new 24-bed community hospital at Bonar Bridge in Sutherland and a new day surgery centre at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, work on both of which will start next year.

In Inverness, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said:

"The record funding I am announcing today will enable NHS boards across Scotland to continue with their building programmes to ensure that we have a health service infrastructure that is fit for the 21st Century.

"These developments will bring real benefits to patients and staff and ensure that first-class treatment can be delivered in a state-of-the-art environment.

"The funding for the Scottish Ambulance Service is also to be welcomed as it will ensure that its fleet of vehicles is as modern as possible.

"I am particularly pleased that this funding will enable work to start on large-scale projects including re-design projects at Borders General Hospital and a new Emergency Care Centre for Aberdeen."

NHS board Funding for 08/09 (£m)