A cash-strapped health board faces a £76 million deficit next year, it has been revealed.
NHS Grampian's projections for the 2026/27 financial year have outlined a “significant financial challenge”, a report states.
The board, which serves the population of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray councils, has been bogged down by expensive capital projects in recent years, including the construction of an over-budget maternity hospital and cancer centre.
The Scottish Government has informed the board that it cannot overspend more than £36m if it is to receive emergency funding.
As such, the board says £40m in savings will need to be identified, on top of an ongoing £62m savings drive.
NHS Grampian has already borrowed £92m from the Scottish Government.
In an accompanying report, chief executive Laura Skaife-Knight acknowledged that the health board was facing challenges.
She remarked: “Whilst there is much to be optimistic about as we look ahead to 2026/27, I would first like to recognise that we remain in winter and that it has been a very challenging start to the year, with the recent severe weather compounding the existing pressures NHS Grampian and our system partners are responding to in relation to demand on our services, particularly for unscheduled (emergency) care.”
These issues were further compounded by a four month closure of the health board’s Central Decontamination Unit (CDU) in Aberdeen.
Used to clean surgical tools, the unit was shut after an unknown substance on tools was discovered in October.
It reopened in January, after causing almost 1,500 procedures and appointments to be delayed.
However, Skaife-Knight argued that the board had seen positive signs in recent months.
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“We continue to make strong progress against our financial and savings plan for the year,” she remarked.
“In recent weeks we have had confirmation that we will achieve our £45m maximum deficit position, which is an incredible achievement and the result of continued hard work across the organisation.
“For the sixth consecutive month we have delivered savings which exceed our plan. We remain on track to achieve our £61.8m savings requirement for the year which is a considerable step forward.”
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