Financially stricken health board to be given further support

The Scottish government is to increase its involvement at a health board suffering serious financial problems.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran required a £51.4m loan in 2024/25 to break even - which prompted Auditor General Stephen Boyle to say there was no evidence it can achieve financial sustainability.

Government ministers said the situation at the health authority has now been escalated to Stage 4 in their intervention support scheme - the second highest level.

The move means there will be further government support for the health board and more scrutiny of the way it is being run.

Last year's report revealed NHS Ayrshire and Arran has outstanding loans totalling £129.9m, the highest amount across the NHS in Scotland.

It also overspent by £14m on temporary staff, was already facing a deficit of £33.1m as of last autumn and was relying on "overly optimistic savings plans".

NHS Ayrshire & Arran was placed on level 3 of the five stage NHS in Scotland Support and Intervention Framework in 2018 because of its financial position.

Last summer, chief executive Claire Burden was announced as taking an extended leave of absence, followed by Professor Gordon James taking over as interim chief executive.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said the latest move - which will see the health board receive nearly £1.1bn in 2026-27 - would help place it on a sustainable financial footing going forwards.

"Escalation to Stage 4 brings enhanced scrutiny and dedicated support from the Scottish government," he said.

"I have confidence in interim chief executive Gordon James and his leadership team, and we will work closely with them over the coming months to return the health board to a sustainable financial footing."

Scottish Conservative public health spokesperson Brian Whittle MSP described the troubles with NHS Ayrshire and Arran as a reflection of the SNP's wider governance.

"Waiting lists are through the roof and A&E waiting times at hospitals such as Ayr and Crosshouse have skyrocketed on the SNP's watch," he said.

"Ministers are presiding over a permanent crisis in our NHS despite the best efforts of frontline staff who are doing their best for patients.

"John Swinney and Neil Gray must accept their approach is failing miserably. They must adopt our bold plans to slash bureaucracy and surge resources to the frontline if NHS Ayrshire and Arran are to get out of this crisis."

Trade union Unison said the problems were due to ongoing difficulties with social care.

The union's Scotland health lead Matt McLaughlin said: "The health board is forced to spend tens of thousands of pounds daily on delayed discharges and that's down to the Scottish government's failure to tackle the crisis in social care.

"The significant problems in NHS Ayrshire and Arran can't be fixed until hundreds of vacant health service jobs are filled and there's better support for staff working flat out to provide care to their patients."