Health in Scotland

File:Edinburgh Scottish Parliament-20110902-RM-155721.jpg in Edinburgh is primarily responsible for health services in Scotland]]

Following Scottish devolution 1999, all areas of responsibility for health and social care policy and funding became devolved to the Scottish Parliament, whilst a few aspects of Scottish health policy, such as surrogacy, remain reserved powers of the UK government.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20314150|title=What powers does Scotland have?|date=2013-01-31|access-date=2019-07-21|language=en-GB|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729082626/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20314150|url-status=live}} Prior to the re–establishment of a Scottish Parliament in 1999 following Scottish devolution, Scotland still had a separate health care system from the rest of the United Kingdom between 1948 until 1999, with the Scotland Office responsible for health care policy and NHS funding in the country. Following devolution, those powers, amongst others, were transferred to the Scottish Government.{{cite web |title=Devolution and the NHS |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/devolution-and-nhs |website=Institute for Government |access-date=28 May 2025 |language=en |date=18 August 2020}}

NHS Scotland spending per head of the population in Scotland was estimated at £2,396 per person in 2018–19.{{cite web |title=Devolution and the NHS |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/devolution-and-nhs |website=Institute for Government |access-date=28 May 2025 |language=en |date=18 August 2020}} The Scottish Cabinet member for Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care is directly responsible for all areas of health and social care in Scotland for which the Scottish Parliament has devolved powers over, and is supported in their capacity by the Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport and the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy.{{cite web |title=The Scottish Government |url=https://www.gov.scot |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=28 May 2025 |language=en}} The Scottish Government is also responsible for creating and implementing public health initiatives and promoting and protecting the health and wellbeing of the population across the country.

The responsibility of implementing health care approaches is primarily the responsibility of the fourteen different NHS Scotland health boards across the country.{{cite web |title=The National Health Service in Scotland |url=https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/media/3wnpovak/spice-the-national-health-service-in-scotland.pdf |website=NHS Highland |access-date=28 May 2025}} They are directly accountable to Scottish Government ministers and ultimately responsible to the Scottish Parliament. On 1 April 2016, it became mandatory for all NHS Scotland health boards and local authorities across Scotland to integrate some aspects of health and social care services.

{{cite web|title=Monthly Data on Births and Deaths Registered in Scotland|url=https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-publications/weekly-and-monthly-data-on-births-and-deaths/monthly-data-on-births-and-deaths-registered-in-scotland|website=National Records of Scotland|date=31 May 2013 |access-date=26 October 2023}}

{{Main|Healthcare in Scotland}}

File:QEUH.jpg in Glasgow, a NHS Scotland hospital which is the largest acute hospital in Europe{{cite web |title=Scotshield wins hospital fire system contract |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/13078939.Scotshield_wins_hospital_fire_system_contract/ |website=Herald Scotland |access-date=28 May 2025}}]]

Healthcare in Scotland is mainly provided by Scotland's public health service, NHS Scotland. It provides healthcare to all permanent residents free at the point of need and paid for from general taxation.{{cite web |title=Healthcare in Scotland {{!}} Scotland.org |url=https://www.scotland.org/live-in-scotland/healthcare |website=Scotland |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}} Health is a matter that is devolved, and considerable differences have developed between the public healthcare systems in the different countries of the United Kingdom.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7149423.stm NHS now four different systems] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403211931/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7149423.stm |date=3 April 2009 }} BBC 2 January 2008 In 2011, the Scottish Government, lead by the Scottish National Party (SNP), abolished prescription charges.{{cite web |title=Prescription charges abolished in Scotland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12928485 |website=BBC News |access-date=27 May 2025 |date=31 March 2011}} As a result, any Scottish prescription prescribed to patients by a doctor in Scotland and for dispensing in Scotland would be provided free of charge.{{cite web |title=Prescription charges - General information about the Tariff - Scottish Drug Tariff - Medical practice and pharmaceuticals - Resources and tools - Public Health Scotland |url=https://publichealthscotland.scot/resources-and-tools/medical-practice-and-pharmaceuticals/scottish-drug-tariff/general-information-about-the-tariff/prescription-charges/ |website=publichealthscotland.scot |access-date=27 May 2025}} The Scottish Government has remained committed to free prescriptions in the country and have no current plans to reintroduce any form of charge for prescriptions,{{cite web |title=No plans to reintroduce Prescription Charges in Scotland |url=https://kidneycareuk.org/about-us/policy-updates/no-plans-to-reintroduce-prescription-charges-in-scotland/ |website=Kidney Care UK |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en |date=21 November 2024}} in spite of a suggestion that the reintroduction of charges could generate £50 million for NHS Scotland.{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=J. |last2=Bradshaw |first2=S. E. |title=PHP160 - PRESCRIPTION CHARGES IN SCOTLAND: THE IMPACT OF FREE PRESCRIPTIONS |url=https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(18)34356-0/fulltext |website=Value in Health |access-date=27 May 2025 |pages=S177 |language=English |doi=10.1016/j.jval.2018.09.1054 |date=1 October 2018}} Though the public system dominates healthcare provision, private healthcare and a wide variety of alternative and complementary treatments are available for those willing to pay.Steel D, Cylus J. United Kingdom (Scotland): Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 2012; 14(9): 1–150.

There has been no evidence provided through various studies which define the abolition of prescription charges in Scotland as being either a effective or ineffective policy when it comes to reducing the number of hospital admissions.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Andrew James |last2=Henley |first2=William |last3=Frank |first3=John |title=Impact of abolishing prescription fees in Scotland on hospital admissions and prescribed medicines: an interrupted time series evaluation |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30567818/ |website=BMJ open |access-date=27 May 2025 |pages=e021318 |doi=10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021318 |date=18 December 2018}} A 2025 report from Audit Scotland into NHS Scotland highlighted the need for reform in the service, particularly regarding the way the Scottish Government scrutinises the NHS regarding its operations.{{cite web |title='NHS governance must improve to deliver health reforms' |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25194597.scottish-government-urged-improve-nhs-governance-deliver-reforms/ |website=The Herald |access-date=29 May 2025 |language=en |date=28 May 2025}}

==School immunisations==

In Scotland, all children aged between 13–18 years are vaccinated against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio, commonly when they are in secondary school in Third year.{{cite web |title=School Vaccinations |url=https://www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/vaccination-programmes/school-vaccinations/ |website=NHS Borders |access-date=28 May 2025}} Additionally, children in S3 and S4 receive a vaccination against MenACWY. In their first year of secondary school, children are routinely vaccinated against HPV, whilst all children in both primary and secondary school are offered yearly Influenza vaccination usually between September–December. Data obtained by Public Health Scotland show that boys are less likely to take all three vaccines against girls.{{cite web |title=Protecting Scotland’s young people from vaccine preventable diseases - News - Public Health Scotland |url=https://publichealthscotland.scot/news/2024/november/protecting-scotland-s-young-people-from-vaccine-preventable-diseases/ |website=publichealthscotland.scot |access-date=28 May 2025}} Vaccinations for children are commonly offered whilst they are at school, and conducted by health professionals from NHS Scotland, such as a school nurse.{{cite web |title=Childhood Vaccinations |url=https://www.nhslothian.scot/vaccinations/childhood-vaccinations/#:~:text=for%20self%2Dreferral.-,Routine%20School%20Vaccinations%2C%20Including%20Seasonal%20Flu,child's%20health%20and%20well%2Dbeing.&text=School%2DBased:%20Flu%2C%20HPV,Forms:%20Sent%20home%20in%20advance. |website=NHS Lothian |access-date=28 May 2025}}

High rates of alcohol related illnesses pose a major public health challenge for Scotland. NHS Scotland estimate that there were 3,705 deaths attributable to alcohol consumption in 2015, this equates to 6.5% or around 1 in 15 of the deaths for the whole of Scotland for that year.{{Cite report|date=2018|title=Hospital admissions, deaths and overall burden of disease attributable to alcohol consumption in Scotland|url=https://www.scotpho.org.uk/media/1597/scotpho180201-bod-alcohol-scotland.pdf|publisher=NHS Scotland|access-date=21 July 2019|archive-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008081823/https://www.scotpho.org.uk/media/1597/scotpho180201-bod-alcohol-scotland.pdf|url-status=live}} Alcohol misuse was estimated to cost the Scottish economy £3,560,000,000 per year in 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.healthscotland.scot/health-topics/alcohol/alcohol-overview|title=Alcohol overview|last=Scotland|first=NHS Health|website=www.healthscotland.scot|language=en|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721150248/http://www.healthscotland.scot/health-topics/alcohol/alcohol-overview|url-status=live}} Alcohol consumption in Scotland is approximately 20% higher than in England and Wales.

In December 2014, the Scottish Government reduced the legal drink driving limit in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries on Scottish roads.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30329743|title=Scotland lowers drink-drive limit|date=2014-12-05|access-date=2019-07-21|language=en-GB|archive-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721225743/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30329743|url-status=live}} The reduction in the legal limit of blood alcohol levels from 80 mg to 50 mg in 100ml of blood brought Scotland in to line with other European countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain. However, within two years after the new law was introduced, the rates of road traffic accidents in Scotland had not decreased. One possible explanation is that the change in the limit may not have been enforced or publicised sufficiently to have the expected effect in reducing accidents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-46541752|title=New drink-drive laws fail to cut accidents|last=Alderson|first=Reevel|date=2018-12-13|access-date=2019-07-21|language=en-GB|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722095306/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-46541752|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal |last= |date=2019-09-10 |title=A lower drink-drive limit in Scotland is not linked to reduced road traffic accidents as expected |url=https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/a-lower-drink-drive-limit-in-scotland-is-not-linked-to-reduced-road-traffic-accidents-as-expected |journal=NIHR Evidence |type=Plain English summary |publisher=National Institute for Health and Care Research |doi=10.3310/signal-000815 |s2cid=241723380 |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-date=2 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102113044/https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/a-lower-drink-drive-limit-in-scotland-is-not-linked-to-reduced-road-traffic-accidents-as-expected/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last1=Lewsey |first1=Jim |last2=Haghpanahan |first2=Houra |last3=Mackay |first3=Daniel |last4=McIntosh |first4=Emma |last5=Pell |first5=Jill |last6=Jones |first6=Andy |date=June 2019 |title=Impact of legislation to reduce the drink-drive limit on road traffic accidents and alcohol consumption in Scotland: a natural experiment study |url=https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/phr07120 |journal=Public Health Research |language=en |volume=7 |issue=12 |pages=1–46 |doi=10.3310/phr07120 |issn=2050-4381 |doi-access=free |pmid=31241879 |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-date=2 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102113044/https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/phr/phr07120/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012}}

In 2012, the Scottish Government passed legislation to introduce a statutory minimum price per unit of alcohol to try to reduce alcohol consumption.{{Cite web|url=http://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/Alcohol/minimum-pricing|title=Minimum Unit Pricing|last=Scottish Government|first=St Andrew's House|date=2012-07-31|website=www2.gov.scot|language=en|access-date=2019-07-21|archive-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721150259/https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/Alcohol/minimum-pricing|url-status=live}} The legislation was subject to legal challenges by alcohol trade bodies including the Scotch Whisky Association but was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41981909|title=Supreme Court backs Scottish minimum alcohol pricing|date=2017-11-15|website=BBC News Online|access-date=2017-11-15|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730152242/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41981909|url-status=live}} The Act came into effect on 1 May 2018 with an initial minimum price of 50p per unit. As of 2023, some politicians want to amend minimum pricing laws to increase to 80p per unit.

{{main|Drug crisis in Scotland}}

File:Drug misuse mortality rate in Scotland mapped.svg

Scotland has the highest number of drug related deaths of any European country, and is three times higher than the second highest number of drug related deaths in Europe, the Republic of Ireland.{{cite web |title=Drug and drink deaths in Scotland still among Europe’s worst despite new funding |url=https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-features/latest-news/detail/2024/10/31/drug-and-drink-deaths-in-scotland-still-among-europe-s-worst-despite-new-funding#:~:text=Scotland's%20drug%2Dinduced%20death%20rate,growing%20prevalence%20of%20synthetic%20opioids. |website=www.rcpsych.ac.uk |access-date=30 May 2025 |language=en}} Drug related (or misuse) mortality rates have begun to rise in Scotland since the 1980s.{{Cite journal |last1=Parkinson |first1=Jane |last2=Minton |first2=Jon |last3=Lewsey |first3=James |last4=Bouttell |first4=Janet |last5=McCartney |first5=Gerry |date=2018-03-27 |title=Drug-related deaths in Scotland 1979–2013: evidence of a vulnerable cohort of young men living in deprived areas |journal=BMC Public Health |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=357 |doi=10.1186/s12889-018-5267-2 |issn=1471-2458 |pmc=5870372 |pmid=29580222 |doi-access=free }} Since 2015, mortality rates have dramatically increased, doubling from their previous numbers a decade ago. A factor of this can traced to the more recent ageing of the so called 'Trainspotting generation' (those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s) which has given rise to increased mortality rates.{{Cite news |last1=McCann |first1=Allison |last2=Turner |first2=Mary |date=2019-08-07 |title=As Scotland's 'Trainspotting' Generation Ages, the Dead Pile Up |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/world/europe/scotland-heroin-deaths.html |access-date=2022-10-28 |issn=0362-4331}} Funding cuts in 2016 by the Scottish Government reduced drug and alcohol prevention services funding by 20%, though by 2019 this had been restored. Additional reasons may be related to the failings of the UK's drug policy due to drug policy not being a devolved policy issue within Scotland.{{cite web |title=As Scotland’s ‘Trainspotting’ Generation Ages, the Dead Pile Up (Published 2019) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/world/europe/scotland-heroin-deaths.html |website=New York Times |access-date=30 May 2025 |language=en |date=7 August 2019}}

Research conducted in 2019 has shown Scotland has had a larger number of drug deaths than the United States, which was thought to be the highest in the world.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stepbysteprecovery.co.uk/scotland-has-highest-drug-death-rate-in-europe/|title=Scotland Has Highest Drug Death Rate In Europe|last=Mallion|website=www.stepbysteprecovery.co.uk|date=30 July 2019|access-date=2019-11-20|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225175343/https://www.stepbysteprecovery.co.uk/scotland-has-highest-drug-death-rate-in-europe/|url-status=live}} In the US in 2017 the rate of drug deaths of 217 per million of the population is now slightly lower than Scotland's rate (218 deaths per million of population). According to the Guardian newspaper, the increase in drug deaths in recent years are due to benzodiazepines, heroin and ecstasy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/16/scotland-records-huge-rise-in-drug-related-deaths|title=Scotland records huge rise in drug-related deaths|last=Brooks|first=Libby|date=2019-07-16|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-11-20|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=6 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806142447/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/16/scotland-records-huge-rise-in-drug-related-deaths|url-status=live}}

In 2020 1,339 deaths related to drug misuse were registered in Scotland, a 5% increase on 2019, and the highest ever recorded. 63% were of people aged between 35 and 54, and men were 2.7 times as likely to have a drug-related death as women. People living in the most deprived areas were 18 times more likely to die from a drug-related condition than those in the least deprived areas. The Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce reported that use of naloxone kits may have saved almost 1,400 lives in 2020.{{cite news |title=Scotland logs highest number of drug-related deaths on record in 2020 |url=https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/scotland-logs-highest-number-of-drug-related-deaths-on-record-in-2020 |access-date=6 September 2021 |publisher=Pharmaceutical Journal |date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906152246/https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/scotland-logs-highest-number-of-drug-related-deaths-on-record-in-2020 |url-status=live }} In 2021, 1,187 people died in Scotland as a direct result of a drug overdose. Nearly half of the drug deaths in Scotland were attributed to methadone.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rehabguide.co.uk/drug-deaths-in-scotland-methadone/|title=Methadone responsible for nearly half of Scotland's drug deaths|last=McLean|website=www.rehabguide.co.uk|date=3 November 2019 |access-date=2021-04-18}}

In January 2025, the UK's first drug consumption room was opened in Glasgow in an attempt to combat drug related deaths and to prevent the sharing of needles.{{cite web |title=Glasgow opens UK's first safer drug consumption facility |url=https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/11760/Glasgow-opens-UK-s-first-safer-drug-consumption-facility |website=Glasgow City Council |access-date=30 May 2025 |language=en}}

Across Scotland in 2023, the Scottish Government estimated that almost 32% of adults across Scotland were living with obesity which marked the highest level since obtaining data regarding obesity began.{{cite web |title=9 Obesity |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-health-survey-2023-volume-1-main-report/pages/15/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}} Additionally, it marked a 10% increase from data obtained in 2004 (24%). The Health and Sport Committee has called for more action to tackle Scotland's "obesogenic environment". 17% of children in the same time period were found to be at risk of obesity. Obesity is regarded in Scotland as being a major contributing factor to a range of health complications including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, asthma and high cholesterol.

Obesity levels in Scotland are the highest amongst the countries of the United Kingdom, with an estimated cost of tackling obesity being estimated at £5.3 billion of public spending.{{cite web |title=Counting the cost of obesity in Scotland |url=https://www.nesta.org.uk/feature/counting-the-cost-of-obesity-in-scotland/ |website=nesta |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}} The spending on tackling obesity across the country is projected to increase in the future. Obesity is regarded as the leading cause of death in the country, and is attributed to 23% of all deaths recorded in Scotland.

{{main|Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005}}

File:Andy Kerr.jpg (pictured) was the Minister for Health and Community Care who introduced the successful Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005]]

Scotland was the first country in the UK to enact a smoking ban in public places. The legislation was passed in the Scottish Executive in 2005 and came into force on 26 March 2006. The effect of the smoking ban has been found to be positive with an 18% drop in the rate of child asthma admissions per year and a 17% reduction in heart attack admissions to nine Scottish hospitals.{{Cite journal|last=AshScotland|date=10 March 2016|title=Time to look back, now the smoke has cleared|url=https://www.ashscotland.org.uk/media/7248/Final2sideposter.pdf|access-date=21 July 2019|archive-date=21 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721163448/https://www.ashscotland.org.uk/media/7248/Final2sideposter.pdf|url-status=dead}} In 2015, 87% of Scottish adults were found to be in favour of the ban, with only 8% opposed.

The tobacco control strategy has had a "positive impact". Scottish smoking rates fell from 31% in 2003 to 21% in 2015. There is a socio-economic gradient with 35% of people living in the most-deprived areas smoking compared to 10% in the most affluent areas.{{cite news|title=Scottish anti-smoking strategy shows 'positive impact'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41095421|access-date=16 September 2017|work=BBC News|date=31 August 2017|archive-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904061208/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41095421|url-status=live}}

The Scottish Government has set an objective for Scotland to become tobacco free by 2034. As a result of the lack of knowledge of the long term conditions and side effects of vaping, the Scottish Government are increasingly concerned about vaping, particularly amongst young people.{{cite web |title=Vapes and vaping |url=https://www.gov.scot/policies/smoking/electronic-cigarettes/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}} One of the measures introduced to combat young people beginning to vape will see the sale of disposable vapes in Scotland becoming banned from 1 June 2025.{{cite web |title=Action on single-use vapes |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/action-on-single-use-vapes/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}}

There is some evidence that Scottish patients more often seek medical help with stress, anxiety and depression than patients across the countries of the United Kingdom.{{cite news|title=Depression levels high in Scotland|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1466882.stm|access-date=2 February 2016|work=BBC News|date=31 July 2001|archive-date=3 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603144956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1466882.stm|url-status=live}} Mental health is regarded by NHS Scotland as "one of the major public health challenges" across the country, with one in four people affected by a form of mental health annually.{{cite web |title=Mental Health {{!}} NHS Research Scotland {{!}} NHS Research Scotland |url=https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/research-areas/mental-health#:~:text=Mental%20Health%20is%20one%20of,about%20how%20to%20get%20involved |website=www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk |access-date=27 May 2025}} In June 2023, the Scottish Government published their Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy to improving mental health and access to services across the country.{{cite web |title=1. Sources of support |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/mental-health-wellbeing-strategy/pages/1/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}} The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 is the primary piece of legislation affecting mental health in Scotland and applies to anyone defined as having a "mental disorder", defined under the act as "any mental illness, personality disorder or learning disability".{{cite web |title=Mental Health Act |url=https://www.mwcscot.org.uk/law-and-rights/mental-health-act |website=Mental Health Commission for Scotland |access-date=27 May 2025}}

Scotland is also looking to trial a dedicated mental health ambulance service, following success of a similar scheme in Sweden.{{Cite web|url = https://www.express.co.uk/scotland/1146769/scotland-sweden-psychiatry-paramedics-project|title = Scotland may copy Sweden's psychiatric paramedics project|date = 28 June 2019|access-date = 25 July 2020|archive-date = 25 July 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200725004156/https://www.express.co.uk/scotland/1146769/scotland-sweden-psychiatry-paramedics-project|url-status = live}} Government spending in Scotland on mental health was estimated to be £1.3 billion in the 2021–22 financial year.{{cite web |title=£30 million mental health funding |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/gbp-30-million-mental-health-funding/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=13. Financial framework |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/mental-health-wellbeing-strategy/pages/13/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en}} A significant funding boost and policy change has lead to the enhancement of mental health services, including the establishment of mental health hospitals such as the £46 million Woodland View in Irvine, North Ayrshire.{{cite web |title=Staff moving to Woodland View "overwhelmingly positive" |url=https://www.nursingtimes.net/home/staff-moving-to-woodland-view-overwhelmingly-positive-30-06-2016/ |website=Nursing Times |access-date=27 May 2025 |language=en |date=30 June 2016}}{{cite web |title=Woodland View |url=https://www.nhsaaa.net/services/services-a-z/mental-health-services/adult-and-acute-mental-health-services/ |website=NHS Ayrshire and Arran |access-date=27 May 2025}}

• NHS Scotland
• List of hospitals in Scotland
• Social care in Scotland

{{reflist}}{{Health in Scotland}}