Question reference: S6W-26503
- Asked by: Paul Sweeney, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 28 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the £1.3 billion that it has committed to spend on mental health in 2024-25, and in light of the "Mental Health Services" budget being frozen at £290.2 million, whether it will provide a breakdown of the source of the funding, including any allocated from (a) other budget lines in its Budget and (b) NHS boards; whether any funding from NHS boards will be ringfenced for this purpose, and whether it will provide a breakdown of what specific workstreams or services the funding will be spent on.
Answer
The most recent Scottish Health Service cost book data published by Public Health Scotland for 2022-23 show that NHS Board spend on Mental Health is over £1.3bn and we expect this will continue in future years.The source of this funding is mainly from NHS Health Boards’ baseline budgets which are provided on an annual basis. Boards are responsible for determining how they utilise that funding to meet the needs and priorities of their local population.
In addition to baseline budgets, direct funding is provided to Boards to help meet specific mental health policy targets including addressing waiting times relating to CAMHS or Psychological Therapies. The direct Mental Health Services budget is set out in the annual Scottish budget and a portion of this is provided to Health Boards in addition to their baseline budgets, which together fund the costs reported in the cost book on Mental Health.
While it is not stated how boards should spend their baseline allocations in relation to mental health services, progress against the 10% target of spend on mental health is monitored through Health Board Annual Delivery Plans.