Back-office spending by Scotland’s NHS rose by £58 million in 2024–25 to £1.142 billion, prompting opposition criticism that more resources should be directed to frontline care. The figures have renewed calls to reduce bureaucracy and streamline NHS boards as patients face long waits and staff shortages, while the Scottish Government faces pressure to show public-sector savings plans.

The total included £445.5 million for digital and data, £442.8 million for property, £106.1 million for human resources and £105.1 million for finance. The article says the sum is comparable to employing around 33,000 nurses at a band-five starting salary, although full-time-equivalent corporate staff numbers fell slightly to 11,530; the Scottish Government has set a target to cut annual back-office costs by £1 billion by the end of the decade.