NHS “CRUMBLING” UNDER SNP WARNS BAILLIE AS £1.5BN REPAIRS BACKLOG SOARS

 by Bill Heaney

Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “letting Scotland’s NHS crumble” as new figures show Health Boards have a maintenance backlog of more than £1.5 billion.

Information obtained by Scottish Labour from NHS Health Boards estimate that it would cost a staggering £1,549,777,788 to do all required maintenance. This includes a range of work required to bring buildings, systems and other assets up to scratch.

Within the more than £1.5 billion Scotland-wide backlog there is a staggering £673 million backlog in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, a £123 million backlog in NHS Lothian and a £124 million backlog in NHS Tayside.

Scottish Labour said these repairs were a “symbol” of the SNP’s neglect of our NHS.   

Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie, right, said: “The SNP has let our NHS crumble and patients and staff are paying the price.  The sorry state of NHS buildings is a symbol of the SNP’s neglect of our entire NHS.

“The SNP has let our most treasured institution decline and the consequences are clear – sky high waiting lists, chaos in A&E, an 8am rush for a GP and rising reliance on private healthcare.

“The truth is if the SNP knew how to fix our NHS it would have done it by now.“This year Scotland faces a direct choice – an NHS on life support with the SNP or an NHS fit for the future with Scottish Labour.”

Health board maintenance backlog*: 

 *Costs as at 1 October 2025 were requested, but some boards have provided the most recent data available, whether before or after that date.