Skip to main content Skip to footer

Allocation of Funding

07

Medical ACT funding is distributed to the Boards via NES by means of a fixed “pot” which is notified annually by the Scottish Government just prior to the start of a new financial year. Distribution of funding is made according to an allocation model; this funding is regarded as a contribution towards the Boards’ costs of delivering clinical teaching to undergraduate medical students but is not designed to reimburse the full costs incurred. The only exception to this is the ScotGEM programme which received ringfenced funding again during 2021-22.

In 2021, the total Medical ACT budget was £96.6m, which represents an ongoing increase over several years primarily due to investment by the Scottish Government in additional student places, along with a focus on developing undergraduate medical education in primary care (see table below for details).

Allocation Year: 2017-18, Funding: £77.2m; Allocation Year: 2018-19, Funding: £78.1m; Allocation Year: 2019-20, Funding: £79.8m; Allocation Year: 2020-21, Funding: £84.8m; Allocation Year: 2021-22, Funding: £96.6m.

Programme for Government (PfG) outlines the growth in the medical workforce that is required within NHS Scotland. This aspires to fund an extra 100 undergraduate medical places for each year of this parliamentary term, the first of which was implemented for the intake in 2020-21 academic year.

During 2021-22, an extra 100 undergraduate medical student places continued as part of PfG expansion. In addition, a further 55 students joined programmes having deferred their entry from the previous academic year and 10 further widening access places were also funded (bringing the total numbers of widening access places in each of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews to 12 and therefore 60 nationally).

An extra 30 places at University of Aberdeen as part of the GP Enhanced Programme (GPEP) and 30 places at University of Glasgow as part of the COMET programme (Community Orientated Medical Experience Track) entered their third year in 2021-22. In addition, a further 25 students entered year 2 within the Edinburgh HCP-Med Programme. The latter is a 5-year graduate entry medical programme with a primary care focus, aimed towards recruiting established health care professionals. Students are placed longitudinally within GP practices at an early stage of the programme, usually within their own Health Board area, to allow them to continue to work and study simultaneously.

Finally, a further 115 undergraduate medical student places were also granted in response to the regrading of exam results, directly as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption to Higher and A level exams.

Notification of funding amounts came to NES in the second half of the financial year, making it challenging for Boards to consider proposals for additional spending as all funds required to be used by the end of 2021-22. The Medical ACT team worked hard during this period and all funding was dispersed within the deadline. In addition, the NES Director of Finance was able to identify additional funds to support Medical ACT which were used towards capital infrastructure projects in several Boards, which was important to build capacity for undergraduate accommodation.

Allocation of Medical ACT Funding to Boards 2021-22 per June 21 allocation letter

Table 1a: Medical ACT Allocation by Programme (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh) at Stage 2

Health Board: Ayrshire and Arran, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Ayrshire and Arran, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 125,465/Primary Care: 31,427; Health Board: Ayrshire and Arran, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 6,000/Primary Care: 69,801; Health Board: Ayrshire and Arran, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 3,038,408/Primary Care: 250,081; Health Board: Ayrshire and Arran, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 3,169,873/Primary Care: 351,309.  Health Board: Borders, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Borders, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Borders, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 705,040/Primary Care: 76,471; Health Board: Borders, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 4,785/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Borders, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 709,826/Primary Care: 76,471.   Health Board: Dumfries and Galloway, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 38,472; Health Board: Dumfries and Galloway, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 18,868/Primary Care: 104,052; Health Board: Dumfries and Galloway, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 232,736/Primary Care: 15,142; Health Board: Dumfries and Galloway, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 508,793/Primary Care: 11,918; Health Board: Dumfries and Galloway, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 760,398/Primary Care: 169,584.   Health Board: Fife, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 7,157/Primary Care: 91,544; Health Board: Fife, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 548,368/Primary Care: 134,277; Health Board: Fife, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 1,299,843/Primary Care: 12,446; Health Board: Fife, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 4,785/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Fife, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 1,054,007/Primary Care: 194,009; Health Board Total—Hospital: 2,914,161/Primary Care: 432,376.   Health Board: Forth Valley, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Forth Valley, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 153,010/Primary Care: 71,019; Health Board: Forth Valley, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 359,834/Primary Care: 7,571; Health Board: Forth Valley, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 695,047/Primary Care: 133,700; Health Board: Forth Valley, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 1,207,890/Primary Care: 212,290.  Health Board: Grampian, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 12,653,530/Primary Care: 2,236,530; Health Board: Grampian, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 445/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Grampian, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 47,605; Health Board: Grampian, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 13,803/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Grampian, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 12,667,685/Primary Care: 2,284,135.   Health Board: Greater Glasgow, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 42,944/Primary Care: 269; Health Board: Greater Glasgow, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 28,771/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Greater Glasgow, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 43,402/Primary Care: 102,781; Health Board: Greater Glasgow, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 17,238,707/Primary Care: 2,418,140; Health Board: Greater Glasgow, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 17,353,887/Primary Care: 2,521,190.  Health Board: Highlands, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 3,103,562/Primary Care: 562,936; Health Board: Highlands, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 156,238/Primary Care: 105,988; Health Board: Highlands, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 39,785/Primary Care: 7,571; Health Board: Highlands, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 19,141/Primary Care: 31,090; Health Board: Highlands, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 4,814/Primary Care: 7,290; Health Board Total—Hospital: 3,323,539/Primary Care: 714,875.   Health Board: Lanarkshire, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 7,157/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Lanarkshire, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 121,513/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Lanarkshire, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 143,104/Primary Care: 40,034; Health Board: Lanarkshire, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 3,385,443/Primary Care: 406,498; Health Board: Lanarkshire, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 3,657,217/Primary Care: 446,532. Health Board: Lothian, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 35,787/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Lothian, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 54,925/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Lothian, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 16,729,609/Primary Care: 2,548,187; Health Board: Lothian, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 32,944/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Lothian, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 296/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 16,853,561/Primary Care: 2,548,187.  Health Board: Orkney, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 15,185/Primary Care: 10,160; Health Board: Orkney, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 12,453; Health Board: Orkney, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Orkney, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 4,785/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Orkney, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 19,970/Primary Care: 22,613. Health Board: Shetland, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 130,515/Primary Care: 23,152; Health Board: Shetland, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Shetland, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Shetland, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 4,785/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Shetland, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 14,688/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 149,988/Primary Care: 23,152.  Health Board: Tayside, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 7,780; Health Board: Tayside, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 12,334,718/Primary Care: 1,855,878; Health Board: Tayside, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 40,034; Health Board: Tayside, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 7,546/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Tayside, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 445/Primary Care: 7,650; Health Board Total—Hospital: 12,342,709/Primary Care: 1,911,342.  Health Board: Western Isles, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 122,773/Primary Care: 73,648; Health Board: Western Isles, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Western Isles, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 9,645/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Western Isles, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 4,785/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Western Isles, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/PC: 1,907; Health Board Total—Hospital: 137,203/Primary Care: 75,550.   Health Board: SNBTS, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: SNBTS, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: SNBTS, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 16,878/PC: 0; Health Board: SNBTS, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 368/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: SNBTS, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 17,247/Primary Care: 0.  Health Board: State Hospital, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: State Hospital, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: State Hospital, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 28,395/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: State Hospital, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: State Hospital, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 28,395/Primary Care: 0.   Health Board: Ambulance Service, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Ambulance Service, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 3,197/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Ambulance Service, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Ambulance Service, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 9,570/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Du Ambulance Service, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 75,892/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 88,659/Primary Care: 0.   Health Board: Golden Jubilee, Medical Programme: Aberdeen—Hospital: 7,157/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Golden Jubilee, Medical Programme: Dundee—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Golden Jubilee, Medical Programme: Edinburgh—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Golden Jubilee, Medical Programme: Glasgow—Hospital: 696,440/Primary Care: 0; Health Board: Golden Jubilee, Medical Programme: St Andrews—Hospital: 0/Primary Care: 0; Health Board Total—Hospital: 703,597/Primary Care: 0.

Table 1b: Medical ACT Allocation by Programme (Glasgow, St Andrews) at Stage 2

Data in this image included in the alternative text for the table above, entitled 'Table 1a: Medical ACT Allocation by Programme'.

Table 2: Medical ACT Allocation following smoothing—Stage 3

Health Board: Ayreshire and Arran, Adjustment—Model smoothing: (56,979), Total: 2,464,203. Health Board: Borders, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 11,717, Total: 798,014. Health Board: Dumfries and Galloway, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 4,102, Total: 934,085. Health Board: Fife, Adjustment—Model smoothing: (56,695), Total: 3,289,842. Health Board: Forth Valley, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 78,812, Total: 1,498,992. Health Board: Grampian, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 0, Total: 14,951,820. Health Board: Greater Glasgow, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 0, Total: 19,875,077. Health Board: Highlands, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 326,078, Total: 4,364,492. Health Board: Lanarkshire, Adjustment—Model smoothing: (65,159), Total: 4,038,591. Health Board: Lothian, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 0, Total: 19,401,748. Health Board: Orkney, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 16,954, Total: 59,537. Health Board: Shetland, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 18,437, Total: 191,577. Health Board: Tayside, Adjustment—Model smoothing: (236,663), Total: 14,017,389. Health Board: Western Isles, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 3,541, Total: 216,294. Health Board: SNBTS, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 944, Total: 18,190. Health Board: State Hospital, Adjustment—Model smoothing: 8,071, Total: 36,466. Health Board: Ambulance Service, Adjustment—Model smoothing: (4,150), Total: 84,509. Health Board: Golden Jubilee, Adjustment—Model smoothing: (49,012), Total: 654,585. Total of all Health Boards: 87,895,411.

Table 3: Distribution of Additional Medical ACT Funds by Board (according to new student places funded during 2021-22)

Health Board: Ayrshire and Arran; Percent of ACT model allocation: 4.0%; Additional places—recurrent: £33,852; Additional places—recurrent: £52,079; Additional places—non-recurrent: £7,812; Total funding: £93,743. Health Board: Borders; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0.9%; Additional places—recurrent: £7,559; Additional places—recurrent: £11,630; Additional places—non-recurrent: £1,744; Total funding: £20,933. Health Board: Dumfries and Galloway; Percent of ACT model allocation: 1.1%; Additional places—recurrent: £8,941; Additional places—recurrent: £13,755; Additional places—non-recurrent: £2,063; Total funding: £24,758. Health Board: Fife; Percent of ACT model allocation: 3.8%; Additional places—recurrent: £32,173; Additional places—recurrent: £49,496; Additional places—non-recurrent: £7,424; Total funding: £89,093. Health Board: Forth Valley; Percent of ACT model allocation: 1.6%; Additional places—recurrent: £13,653; Additional places—recurrent: £21,005; Additional places—non-recurrent: £3,151; Total funding: £37,809. Health Board: Grampian; Percent of ACT model allocation: 17%; Additional places—recurrent: £143,742; Additional places—recurrent: £221,142; Additional places—non-recurrent: £33,171; Total funding: £398,056. Health Board: Greater Glasgow and Clyde; Percent of ACT model allocation: 22.6%; Additional places—recurrent: £191,073; Additional places—recurrent: £293,958; Additional places—non-recurrent: £44,094; Total funding: £529,125. Health Board: Highlands; Percent of ACT model allocation: 4.6%; Additional places—recurrent: £38,824; Additional places—recurrent: £59,729; Additional places—non-recurrent: £8,959; Total funding: £107,513. Health Board: Lanarkshire; Percent of ACT model allocation: 4.7%; Additional places—recurrent: £39,452; Additional places—recurrent: £60,696; Additional places—non-recurrent: £9,104; Total funding: £109,252. Health Board: Lothian; Percent of ACT model allocation: 22.1%; Additional places—recurrent: £186,523; Additional places—recurrent: £286,958; Additional places—non-recurrent: £43,044; Total funding: £516,524. Health Board: Orkney; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0%; Additional places—recurrent: £409; Additional places—recurrent: £630; Additional places—non-recurrent: £94; Total funding: £1,134. Health Board: Shetland; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0.2%; Additional places—recurrent: £1,665; Additional places—recurrent: £2,561; Additional places—non-recurrent: £384; Total funding: £4,609. Health Board: Tayside; Percent of ACT model allocation: 16.2%; Additional places—recurrent: £137,034; Additional places—recurrent: £210,822; Additional places—non-recurrent: £31,623; Total funding: £379,472. Health Board: Western Isles; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0.2%; Additional places—recurrent: £2,045; Additional places—recurrent: £3,147; Additional places—non-recurrent: £472; Total funding: £5,664. Health Board: SNBTS; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0%; Additional places—recurrent: £166; Additional places—recurrent: £255; Additional places—non-recurrent: £38; Total funding: £459. Health Board: State Hospital; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0%; Additional places—recurrent: £273; Additional places—recurrent: £420; Additional places—non-recurrent: £63; Total funding: £756. Health Board: Ambulance Service; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0.1%; Additional places—recurrent: £852; Additional places—recurrent: £1,311; Additional places—non-recurrent: £197; Total funding: £2,360. Health Board: National Waiting Times Centre; Percent of ACT model allocation: 0.8%; Additional places—recurrent: £6,764; Additional places—recurrent: £10,406; Additional places—non-recurrent: £1,561; Total funding: £18,732. Total funding: £845,000 (additional places—recurrent); £1,300,00 (additional places—recurrent); £195,000 (additional places—non-recurrent); £2,340,000 (total funding).

* Recurrent: ongoing places / non-recurrent: for that year only