At least a dozen NHS construction projects across Scotland have been delayed or paused for up to two years as a result of budget pressures. These include a network of ten treatment centres intended to deliver additional elective surgeries, diagnostics, and other procedures per year by 2026. 

Health boards have been informed by the Scottish Government that no money is currently available for the developments.

Specific projects facing delays include a new cancer centre and eye hospital in Edinburgh, a national treatment centre in Livingston, and replacement hospitals and revamps in various regions of Scotland. The construction of a new medical centre in a Fife village has also been put on hold until at least 2026.

Other casualties include the delayed £700m University Hospital Monklands, the £80 million redesign of health services in Caithness, which includes community hub and care villages in Wick and Thurso, as well as a reconfiguration of Caithness General Hospital. Additionally, all new NHS building projects in Scotland including the replacement of Belford Hospital are put on hold for at least two years due to budget constraints.

However, NHS Highland remains committed to progressing with the planned redesign of services, workforce planning, development of the local care model, and digital work streams. The approval by the Scottish Government’s Capital Investment Group sets out the earliest possible start date of April 2026 for construction on the new site in Fort William.

The Scottish Government said a revised NHS infrastructure plan would be unveiled in the spring.

In the meantime, addressing essential maintenance issues would be prioritised.

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “With almost 1 in 6 Scots stuck on an NHS waiting list, we cannot afford any more SNP NHS chaos.

“New National Treatment Centres were at the heart of the SNP’s NHS Recovery Plan and these delays spell disaster for waiting lists in Scotland.

“This is yet more broken promises from an SNP government with no plan.

“The SNP must come clean on when these projects will get back on track and how they will ensure Scots can get the treatment they need in the meantime.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman described the capital funding position as “extremely challenging”.

She added: “The UK government did not inflation-proof its capital budget which has resulted in nearly a 10% real-terms cut in the Scottish Government’s capital funding over the medium-term between 2023-24 and 2027-28.

“Our emphasis for the immediate future will be on addressing backlog maintenance and essential equipment replacement.

“As a result of the cut in our capital budget, a revised infrastructure investment plan will be published in the spring and all due consideration will be given to what projects can be included within that revised plan.”