DELAYS for funding – including cash for a new Kincardine health centre – will hold Scotland's NHS back for generations.

That's the view of Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie who said hold-ups and cancellations to vital infrastructure projects are impacting the health service across the country.

She said the SNP government has made "big promises" to patients and staff across Scotland concerning capital infrastructure, but now ministers have u-turned, instructing health boards to cease all project plans.

West Fife and Coastal villages councillor Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour candidate for Dunfermline & Dollar, said: "This confirms what people in Kincardine sadly already knew, that they are not a priority for their own SNP MSPs or MP who have failed to deliver the new health centre they promised almost a decade ago."

Ms Baillie said Scotland’s NHS was "in disarray with lives being put on the line".

She added. "These cancellations and delays to vital NHS infrastructure projects will impede the recovery of our NHS and will result in waiting times getting even longer.

READ MORE: Kincardine residents plan to keep fighting for new health centre

"This is bad news for patients and bad news for staff and risks holding our NHS back for a generation."

A new Kincardine health centre has been in the pipeline for several years with the existing facility deemed not fit for purpose.

Plans had been developed but hopes were dashed last year when the Scottish Government revealed that they were delaying their funding until “the second half of the decade” because it was no longer a priority.

READ MORE: Kincardine will have to wait until 'at least 2026' for funding

Cllr Downie said: "Seventeen years of SNP mismanagement, coupled with the Tory government destroying the UK economy, has left a trail of failure and disappointment in places like Fife.

"The path to turning that around begins with electing a strong group of Scottish Labour MPs at the next UK General Election, that will be the voice of Scotland in a UK Labour government, fighting for the improvements we need for our economy and public services."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said a revised investment plan will be published in the Spring which will identify potential projects.

“As set out in our draft budget, the capital funding position is extremely challenging," they said.

"The UK Government did not inflation-proof its capital budget which has resulted in nearly a 10 per cent real-terms cut in the Scottish Government’s capital funding over the medium-term between 2023-24 and 2027-28.

"Our emphasis for the immediate future will be on addressing backlog maintenance and essential equipment replacement.

“Our Infrastructure Investment Plan (2021-22 to 2025-26) identified the priority health capital projects for funding within that period.

"As a result of the cut in our capital budget, a revised Infrastructure Investment Plan will be published in Spring 2024 and all due consideration will be given to what projects can be included within that revised Plan.

"In the interim, boards have also been advised to pause any new capital projects.”