Health boards in the north and north-east have been shortchanged out of tens of millions of pounds, opposition politicians have claimed.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay increased the overall spend for Scotland’s health service by 5.3%, according to the Scottish Parliament’s Information Service (Spice).
But the same resource also showed that the country’s 14 regional boards, which have enjoyed an equivalent increase in previous years, have had just a 3.8% boost collectively.
Had the same percentage been applied, an additional £142 million would have been shared out among the boards.
Among the regions in the north, Grampian missed out on the largest sum, having been given a 4.1% increase in its funding, from £920.6 million to £957.9 million.
If the board been given the extra 1.2% increase, it would have received an additional £11.5 million.
NHS Highland’s budget was raised by 3.8% from £604.3 million to £627.5 million, meaning it missed out on an extra £8.8 million.
And in the islands, the Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles health boards missed out on a total of £2.5 million.
Last year the total increase given to regional boards was 2.9%, in line with the increase in the total health budget at 2.8%.
Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West MSP, said it was “high time” the region was given a fairer deal.
He said: “The SNP has been short-changing NHS Grampian for many years now.
“These figures suggest the north-east health board will miss out on more than £11 million this year.
“That is unacceptable, particularly at a time when many people are waiting months on end for operations.
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“It is high time the north-east got a fairer deal from this failing SNP government.”
The Scottish Government argued it has provided an additional £160 million to local authorities to be used in social care and mental health treatment as well as the board funds.
A spokesman for Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We will take absolutely no lectures from the Tories when it comes to health funding.
“They are the ones who have cut cash for frontline services in Scotland by 6.5% since 2010.
“Despite that, the SNP has increased health funding by 13.3% over the same period.”
