NHS TAYSIDE AND NHS FIFE MENTAL HEALTH SPENDING TOPS £1.1 BILLION SINCE 2007
Published date : 10 Jul 2017
SCOTTISH NHS BOARDS COMMIT NEARLY £8 BILLION TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN DECADE
Latest figures have revealed that NHS Tayside and NHS Fife spending on mental health services has totalled over £1.1 billion since 2007 – proving the SNP’s commitment to supporting those with mental health issues since the party came to power a decade ago.
The spending by NHS Tayside and NHS Fife has given locals across Fife, Dundee, Perthshire and Angus vital lifeline support, and the funding continues to increase – with the mental health budget across Scotland set to top £1 billion for the first time in 2017/18.
The total invested by the NHS across Scotland in mental health care between 2007/08 and 2015/16 stood at nearly £8 billion.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Jenny Gilruth, said:
“These figures prove the SNP’s strong commitment to supporting those with mental health issues – and the cumulative investment since 2007 is having a really positive impact on people’s lives.
“To see over £1.1 billion invested in mental health by NHS boards in Fife and Tayside shows how seriously we take mental health provision in Fife and throughout Tayside.
“Over the course of this parliament, the SNP is committed to increasing mental health funding further still and transforming mental health care to ensure those most in need get the support they need as soon as possible.
“The recently launched mental health strategy will provide targeted support, with increased mental health workforce in A&E, GP practices, police stations and prisons – as well as reviewing the counselling and guidance arrangements in schools.
“And this year for the first time, the Scottish Government is investing over £1 billion in mental health services. There’s no denying that more still needs to be done, but the SNP are taking decisive action to ensure our mental health services continue to improve – as well as tackling root causes of mental ill health, such as poverty.
“The mental health of people in Fife and across Scotland is absolutely vital to our wellbeing as a nation – and it is good to see that the NHS has been investing significantly to improve these services throughout Fife, Angus, Dundee and Perthshire.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR:
NHS mental health spending in Scottish health boards, 2007/08 to 2015/16:
Scotland: £7.9 billion
NHS Tayside: £758.4 million
NHS Fife: £414.4 million
Mental health expenditure is recorded in the Costs Book (Report R340) within hospital, community and resource transfer data for the 14 geographic health boards and the special board the State Hospital only.
http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Costs/Detailed-Tables/
Local Reporters, HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
