Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is expected to announce major public sector reforms in his Programme for Government. The most significant proposal is to reduce the number of mainland NHS territorial health boards from 11 to 2, creating one board for eastern Scotland and another for western Scotland. In Shetland, Orkney, and the Western Isles, the government is considering merging NHS boards with local councils to form single authorities responsible for most local services, including healthcare, education, and waste collection. These proposals will be subject to public consultation, while national NHS bodies such as the Scottish Ambulance Service are expected to remain unchanged.
The reforms are intended to save public money, reduce bureaucracy, and improve the delivery of public services. Swinney said the government must “embrace change” while continuing to balance Scotland’s budget.
In addition to public sector reform, the Programme for Government will focus on economic growth, reducing child poverty, achieving net zero, and tackling violence against women and girls. Swinney said the government would continue policies such as the Scottish Child Payment and wider family support to help families overcome challenges related to housing, employment, childcare, and other issues.
To ease the cost of living, the government is also proposing a price cap on a limited number of food and drink products sold in large supermarkets. Although the proposal has been criticised by business organisations, Swinney said it is designed to help households facing rising food prices and will be developed through public consultation before any final decisions are made.