Increase in funding for isles health service

NHS Shetland has welcomed a slight increase in its annual funding, announced this week by the Scottish government.

The figure of £36.9million includes extra revenue funding as well as £1million for the capital programme.

NHS Shetland finance director Nick Kenton said that £34.8million was Shetland’s baseline budget and this year’s figure includes an inflation increase of 3.15 per cent, or just over £1million for revenue, or day to day, spending, which includes everything from salaries to drugs and consumables.

Mr Kenton said that the increase takes into account the fact that every health board is expected to make savings of two per cent per year.

The health board has a five year capital programme – costing more than £4million – for projects which it has already discussed with the government.

These include the upgrade and extension of Whalsay Health Centre, which will include a dental surgery, the ongoing work at the Gilbert Bain Hospital and the joint venture with the council to convert part of Montfield into a care home.

The health board has agreed with the government to borrow on future years for the cost of these projects.