Health, Social Care and Sport Committee Pre-Budget Scrutiny 2023-24

Overview

The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is undertaking pre-budget scrutiny for 2023-24.

In recent years, in line with the recommendations of the Budget Process Review Group (BPRG) report, Scottish Parliament subject committees have undertaken prebudget scrutiny, in advance of the publication of the Scottish budget.

The intention is that committees will use pre-budget reports to influence the formulation of spending proposals while they are still in development. In order to facilitate this, committees are required to publish pre-budget reports (or letters) at least six weeks prior to the Scottish budget.

The date of the Scottish budget has not yet been confirmed, as it will depend on the timing of the UK budget (which has not yet been announced). The Scottish budget is normally in December, following an Autumn UK budget, although timings have been different in recent years due to the timing of UK elections and the pandemic. For now, the working assumption is that pre-budget reports/letters will be required to be published by the end of October.

The Committee would like to hear stakeholders responses to the following questions:

Budget context

The Scottish Government’s Resource Spending Review identifies planned increases of 0.6% in real terms for health and social care over the next four years. 

• How would you see these planned budget increases meeting the various challenges facing health and social care over the next four years, including:
  • Recovering from Covid-19 and addressing the treatment backlog
  • The planned creation of a National Care Service
  • Cost and demand pressures in areas such as NHS pay, drug costs and demographic pressures.

Health and social care sustainability

NHS Scotland’s stated ambition is “to become a service which is both environmentally and socially sustainable”.

• How can the Scottish Government use its resources to ensure health and social care services are delivered in a way that is consistent with achieving net zero ambitions, in respect of both physical assets (hospitals and other facilities) and service delivery?

Preventative spend

The Scottish Government has established a Preventative and Proactive Care Programme to shape its approach to preventative care and inform spending decisions.

• What are your views on the Scottish Government’s actions in respect of preventative care and how should it address the challenge of investing in preventative care while maintaining existing services within a tight budget framework?

Health and social care outcomes

In relation to health and social care, a range of different performance frameworks and targets exist, including the National Performance Framework, Local Delivery Plan (LDP) standards, and the ‘National health and wellbeing outcomes’.

• How should health and social care budgets be prioritised in this landscape and which targets or outcomes should take precedence

How to submit your views

Please submit your views using the online submission form, linked to below.

We welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. 

The call for views closes on Wednesday 24 August.