Politicians must “urgently deliver serious long-term and radical reform that finally puts our NHS on a sustainable footing for generations to come”, BMA Scotland has warned today.

BMA Scotland Chair Dr Iain Kennedy said that 2026 can be a “watershed moment” for the health service – but this will require “brave decisions” and can only be achieved if the NHS is not just seen as a way to win the votes of the public in the short-term.

Dr Kennedy was speaking as BMA Scotland published its manifesto ahead of the 2026 election, with the aim of informing debate on the NHS and setting priorities for the next Scottish Government.

Key elements of the proposals include:

NHS Delivery

• A clear, detailed plan on shifting the balance of care to better support GPs and care closer to home while maintaining and supporting secondary (hospital) care.
• A refreshed and renewed focus on how we measure the performance of Scotland’s NHS which ultimately puts patient outcomes at its heart and focuses on learning and improvement.
• An evidence based long-term workforce plan for the NHS in Scotland that takes into account levels of demand.

Public health

• Health impact assessment reports should be a mandatory consideration for all areas of policy making and any new legislation in the Scottish Parliament.
• Ending the deep-rooted scandal that health inequalities present must be a priority for all politicians. 

Wellbeing and culture

• Scotland’s NHS must be a better place to work, where wellbeing is prioritised. Part of this can be achieved by simple steps such as ensuring doctors are able to take scheduled breaks in high-quality rest facilities and embedding safe working levels across primary and secondary care.
• An urgent, independent assessment of whistleblowing procedures at all NHS boards with recommendations for improvement, both for specific boards and across the NHS.

Valuing doctors

• If Scotland is to recruit and retain the doctors it needs, then doctors need to be valued and supported at all stages of their career.

Dr Kennedy said: “The NHS will once again be at the heart of this election, with lengthy waiting times and waiting lists, difficulties in accessing GPs and a growing number of people being forced to turn to private healthcare frequently in the headlines.

“BMA Scotland has consistently warned that without action, the founding principle of the NHS, that it should be free at the point of use, is at risk.

“We are clear that the NHS must not just been seen as a way to win the votes of the public in the short-term. Too often, solutions offered to the problems the health service faces do no more than tinker at the edges or seek to grab attention rather than deliver real results. What is needed is for politicians to put political difference aside and urgently agree and deliver serious long-term and radical reform that finally makes our NHS sustainable and indeed world leading for generations to come. That process and approach might not grab headlines, but it will deliver real and lasting change. With political will and brave decisions from everyone involved, 2026 can be a watershed moment for the NHS. 

“Scotland is united in support of the principle of healthcare free at the point of need and in our desire to arrest this rapid deterioration in performance of a public service many value above all others. The big question our politicians will have to grasp is how to achieve this.

“BMA Scotland’s manifesto for the election sets out our proposals on how this can begin to happen. We hope it can help shape debate and inform the public. Ultimately this won’t be a quick or simple process, but the decisions needed simply cannot be put off or ignored any longer if the NHS is to be saved.”

 

Notes to editors

A copy of BMA Scotland Manifesto 2026 is available on request. 

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.