Our 2026/27 priorities

Our 2026/27 priorities set out what NHS Grampian will focus on in the year ahead, and how we will continue to improve care and support for the people and communities of Grampian.

Over the past year, we have made real progress in strengthening services and improving performance. This positive momentum has been recognised nationally, and the coming year is about building on those strong foundations – sustaining what is working well and tackling the areas where we know we still need to do better for our patients and staff.

These priorities have been shaped by listening carefully to patients, staff, partners and communities across Grampian. They reflect what matters most to the people who use our services and those who deliver them every day.

Our 2026/27 priorities are organised around five key areas that together support better experiences, better outcomes and a more sustainable health service:

People, Leadership and Governance

We want NHS Grampian to be a place where people feel valued, supported and able to do their best work. This means improving staff experience and wellbeing, strengthening leadership at all levels, and making sure our decision‑making is clear, inclusive and well‑governed.

Prevention

By focusing more on prevention and early intervention, we aim to reduce health inequalities and support healthier lives across our communities. This includes working with partners to help prevent or lessen the conditions that place the greatest pressure on hospital care in the future.

Urgent and Unscheduled Care

Our focus is on improving access to urgent and emergency services, reducing waiting times, and supporting alternatives to hospital where appropriate. This helps to ensure people are treated in the right place, at the right time, with the right support.

Planned Care

We will continue to improve waiting times for operations, outpatient appointments, tests and scans, as well as cancer services. Better co-ordination of care will help people get the treatment they need as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Value and Sustainability

Making the best use of our resources is essential to protecting high‑quality care for the future. This includes improving our financial position through sustainable, recurring savings, while continuing to prioritise patient and staff experience.

Working together with our communities

Delivering these priorities is a shared effort. Every member of staff, regardless of role, has a part to play, and we will continue to work closely and in collaboration with local communities, partners and stakeholders across the North East of Scotland, in the East of Scotland and nationally to deliver continuous improvements.

We are committed to being open and transparent about our progress. We will regularly share updates on how we are doing, listen to feedback, and use what we hear to shape ongoing improvements.

Your experiences, ideas and involvement will continue to be central to our work.

Read the full document

You can read the full Priorities for Delivery 2026/27 document by clicking this link.