The Scottish Government is to invest £1.1 billion in the country's NHS estate over the next four years.

In the Annual State of NHS Scotland Assets and Facilities Report for 2015, details of the investment have been revealed for major projects and programmes.

Current projects include the on-going construction of a hospital replacement facility in Dumfries, the expansion of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, and the completion of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

In addition, around £1bn has been invested over the past five years into delivering the Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Over 25 new health and care facilities are are currently planned or are being delivered across Scotland, while a further £290m investment is planned to support health and social care integration, as well as move care from hospitals to local facilities and people's homes where relevant.


Scottish Health Secretary, Shona Robison, said the Government is committed to improving the quality of the NHS estate.

"Over the past five years we have invested around £1 billion to deliver two of the largest acute hospitals ever built in Scotland. This along with work underway in Dumfries and Edinburgh, is transforming the way healthcare is delivered in Scotland, while also ensuring we provide the facilities and the capacity needed in our NHS for the future," she said.

"Other initiatives highlighted in this report include the £200 million network of new elective treatment centres being planned across Scotland which will enable people to be treated more quickly for planned surgery while easing the pressure off unplanned and emergency treatment.

"Investment in infrastructure will also help us make best use of the NHS's finite resources – reducing the cost of maintaining older and less suitable buildings.

"This report shows that health boards also remain focussed on ensuring that their existing estate and facilities deliver value for money, are safe, and fit for purpose."

To view the Annual State of NHS Scotland Assets and Facilities Report, visit here.

(LM/CD)