Concerns over £6.6m NHS spin doctor bill

SNP ministers have been criticised after it was revealed at least

£6.6 million has been spent on spin and communications for Scotland’s health boards.

The £6.6m total is likely to be an underestimate as it does not take account of staff on high levels within their pay bandings as well as vacant roles.

Five Scottish health boards have a budget on communications and spin in excess of £500,000 – while NHS24, which has faced criticism for long waiting times and abandoned calls, has spent as least £430,000 on its 11 staff and three vacancies.

NHS National Service Scotland, which provides strategic support and advice to NHS Scotland has 25 employees in its corporate communications sector where there are almost 200 communications staff working across Scotland’s health services.

Scottish Labour’s health and social care spokesperson, Jackie Baillie, said: “It is appalling that over

£6m is being ploughed into an army of spin doctors while our health service is on its knees with spiralling A&E waits, ambulances queueing at emergency departments and a recruitment crisis which existed before the pandemic due to chronic underfunding by the

SNP Government.”