Resource Allocation Formula (NRAC)
Results for financial year 2023 to 2024

More detailed information can be found on our Resource Allocation Formula pages the Data and Intelligence website.

About this release

Please note that data in the Excel workbooks were revised in July 2022 and 15 August 2023 due to errors identified in the indices and shares presented. These revisions are unlikely to significantly impact interpretation of the data. Please see the Excel workbooks for more information.

This release by Public Health Scotland presents a summary of latest outputs from the National Resource Allocation formula (NRAC) by NHS Board. The Formula is used to inform the geographical allocation of the NHS Budget. This run of the formula projects how the geographical need for services will be distributed in 2023/24. The latest outputs are presented alongside previously published outputs for 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Main points

The figure below shows how the formula predicts the overall need for services will be distributed by health board, in relation to years stated.

The graph shows the 2023/24 NRAC unified target share, for each of the 14 NHS Boards, and how these target percentage shares have changed from financial years 2021/22 to 2023/24.

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NRAC unified outputs, for NHS Boards - 2021/22 – 2023/24

Background

It is crucial that resources are distributed fairly across Scotland, taking account of the many factors that influence the need for healthcare in particular areas and the costs of supplying those services. The current process for allocation is the responsibility of the NRAC (NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee) established in 2005. The adjustments are made by the formula based on the projected population of each Board adjusted for three factors that affect relative need for healthcare resources:

• The age/sex composition of the population.
• The relative health needs due to morbidity and multiple life circumstances.
• The unavoidable excess costs of delivering healthcare in remote areas.