BHTA Scottish Parliament Manifesto 2026

Scotland’s health and social care system continues to face pressure from delayed discharge, fragmented community equipment provision, inconsistent funding, and limited national oversight. BHTA members also report procurement delays, uneven local delivery, and short-term purchasing decisions that can restrict access to vital services and undermine patient outcomes.

Against this backdrop, the BHTA Scottish Parliament Manifesto 2026 sets out practical proposals to improve transparency, strengthen coordination, and support better value across health and social care.

The manifesto explains why healthcare and assistive technology should be seen as part of the solution. Access to the right product and service, at the right time, can support prevention, reablement, independence, and more sustainable care at home. It also calls for a more joined-up approach to community equipment provision in Scotland, with stronger accountability, better collaboration, and decisions based on long-term value rather than short-term cost.

The BHTA is calling on the next Scottish Government to:

1. Increase funding for community equipment and adaptations.
2. Establish a National Strategy for Community Equipment.
3. Support growth in the Scottish healthcare and assistive technology sector.
4. Deliver a healthcare and assistive technology ministerial remit.
5. Deliver effective public procurement.
6. Recognise SSF and deliver the five asks for better stoma care services.

Together, these recommendations offer a practical roadmap for improving access, encouraging innovation, and delivering better outcomes for patients, services, and the wider economy.

Click the image below to download the BHTA Scottish Parliament Manifesto 2026.