Two large national NHS organisations are to merge under two ten-year frameworks to support NHS and social care reform unveiled by Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Developed in partnership with COSLA, the ten-year plans seek to tackle the root causes of poor health and support people across Scotland to live healthier for longer.

The Population Health Framework and the Health and Care Service Renewal Framework are central to the government’s plans to help people maintain good health, prevent disease and reform health and social care services.

NHS Education for Scotland will merge with NHS National Services Scotland by April 2026 to create ‘NHS Delivery’, a single body to focus on training, digital innovation and advice to Scotland’s health boards.

NES Chief Executive Professor Karen Reid welcomed the opportunity to work together to enhance both quality and effectiveness of care and create a “more sustainable future”:

“We have a strong ambition to support better rights-based quality care and outcomes for every person in Scotland.

“We welcome this opportunity to shape an ambitious vision for the future. As part of a new, larger organisation, we will be able to harness the talents of a merged NES and NSS workforce to deliver even greater benefits.” 

Governance

In the Service Renewal Framework, the government also commits to clarify health board governance arrangements and strengthen governance across the NHS.

It says it will provide explicit guidance to align with the demands of service reform, including clearer expectations for performance oversight, risk management, and collaborative leadership.

These come as part of the government’s core priorities in response to Audit Scotland’s NHS review which stated that the government had ‘no clear vision’ for delivering the reforms needed.

Health and Care Secretary Neil Gray said refocusing Scotland’s health and care towards preventing ill-health can help us ensure the sustainability of the NHS, adding:

“Through the Service Renewal Framework we will take action to deliver care closer to home, support people to better manage their own treatment and build on innovation, digital and treatment advances.

“This will help shape an efficient health and social care system that is focused on prevention and early intervention, and delivers high quality care at the right time in the right place. The creation of a new national body, NHS Delivery, will help to support that journey.

“I am determined to ensure the measures outlined are delivered effectively and as quickly as possible as we work to transform the health of the nation.”

Meanwhile, both frameworks emphasis that collaboration with wider public service partners will be key to delivering more consistent and equitable healthcare – restating the ‘central role’ of primary and community care.

Improving population health

The Population Health Framework sets out plans to tackle the root causes of poor health and reduce the life expectancy gap between the poorest and most affluent areas across Scotland.

To do this, the government says it will focus on providing equitable access to health and care services, greater access to green spaces, addressing the food environment’s impact on health and improving opportunities for sport and active recreation.

Looking at these underlying factors, the framework aims to reduce health inequalities and prevent chronic illnesses disproportionately affecting those living in poverty, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

COSLA’s Health spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said local authorities and key partners are “uniquely placed” to shape community change:

“Health is created in the communities in which we live, go to school or work, and access essential services. It is at the local level where we find the key levers to tackle the root causes of health problems and ensure people live long, healthy and fulfilling lives.

“The Population Health Framework sets out action across every building block of health. Committing to this preventative approach requires whole system working in order to intervene as early as possible and provide support to people in all aspects of their lives.

“Currently, people from deprived communities have less access to affordable, nutritious food.”

Building on its Good Food Nation plans, the government commits to legislating to promote healthier foods and to restrict the location of less healthy foods in stores and on websites.

While the framework also promises to increase the availability and affordability of healthy foods, it doesn’t set out how this will be achieved.

It says it will publish two-year implementation plan of preventative action to improve the food environment, diet and healthy weight.

Scotland’s Health Secretary said “too many lives are cut short” because of preventable illness and the framework will build the conditions needed to help people thrive, adding:

“We know health is not determined solely by what happens within the walls of hospitals or care homes and we want to create an environment in which everyone can live a healthy life.

“Addressing the problem of obesity and helping people eat well and maintain a healthy weight is a public health priority.”

In the wake of UK legislation coming into force to end nicotine marketing, the framework also outlines plans to deliver public health initiatives that reduce the promotion of health harming products from alcohol, tobacco and vapes, and also gambling.

Read more: Holyrood passes Care Reform Bill; “Relentless focus” on addressing health inequalities; Watchdog criticises homelessness service cuts; Scotland needs more Carer Positive employers; Chief Medical Officer: ‘Critical connections' priority; ‘Unprecedented’ crisis in community healthcare; NHS Scotland: waiting lists and beyond

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.