The First Minister announced proposals for significant reform of health and social care services in the Programme for Government 2026-31. This includes plans to replace the 14 territorial health boards with two strategic health boards, covering the East and West, and further reducing the number of special health boards. Separate arrangements are still to be confirmed for Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles. The government says this will form part of a broader programme of public sector reform aimed at improving efficiency and reducing duplication. 

We understand that our members are, of course, concerned about what the proposals will mean for the services they deliver, for their patients and for their own jobs. We are clear that at every step of the reform process, the voice of nursing must be heard. This includes meaningful engagement with nursing staff and with us and other professional organisations & trade unions.

We are calling for the Scottish government to set out very clearly how service delivery will be improved and establish clear measures to monitor whether this is achieved.

We will engage with Scottish government over its proposals, putting the interests of our members at the forefront. We have 10 principles which we will apply to any discussion, and which are non-negotiable.