SNP returned as the largest party at Holyrood

Key takeaways for occupational therapists: 

• Prevention and care closer to home remain central, strengthening the strategic role of occupational therapy across Scotland’s health and social care system. 

• Workforce measures, including an NHS Job Guarantee and AHP bursaries, could support recruitment, retention and sustainability. 

• Increased focus on neurodiversity, long-term conditions and rehabilitation closely aligns with occupational therapy expertise. 

• Opportunities to influence policy and delivery as a new Scottish Government is formed. 

Thursday’s election resulted in the SNP being returned as the largest party in the Scottish Parliament. Over the coming weeks, formal processes will take place to appoint the next First Minister and form a new Scottish Government. At time of writing, John Swinney has made clear he is keen to speak to leaders of all political parties, excluding Reform, to establish cross-party collaboration as a way to operate as a minority government.  

Who forms the next Scottish Government really matters to occupational therapists across Scotland. We know health and social care are under pressure, and decisions taken in the early stages of the new government will shape workforce priorities, service models and investment for years to come. Party manifestos offer an early indication of the direction of travel and how occupational therapy may be positioned within future policy. 

What the SNP manifesto means for occupational therapy 

The SNP manifesto continues a strong emphasis on prevention, community-based care and workforce sustainability, all of which align closely with occupational therapy values and practice. 

Commitments to an NHS Job Guarantee for graduates across NHS professions have the potential to support recruitment and retention of occupational therapists trained in Scotland, helping to stabilise the workforce at a time of growing demand. The manifesto’s plans for people with learning disabilities, autism and other forms of neurodiversity line up closely with what occupational therapists do. This includes assessing how people manage everyday activities, providing support early on, and helping people take part fully in daily life across health services, schools and social care. 

The plans to improve support for adults and children with long‑term health conditions, including extra investment in services for Long COVID, ME and CFS, highlight how important occupational therapy is. Occupational therapists help with rehabilitation, managing energy and symptoms, building self‑management skills, and supporting people to live as well as possible with long‑term health conditions. 

The shift towards prevention and care closer to home strengthens occupational therapy within the system. Investment in primary care, Hospital at Home services, and community health and care centres means there is growing need for occupational therapy‑led support. This includes helping people stay out of hospital where possible, supporting safe and timely discharge, and enabling people to live independently in their communities. 

The manifesto also focuses on making housing more accessible, helping people get into work, and reducing barriers that stop people from working. Occupational therapists have specialist skills in these areas, from adapting homes and workplaces to supporting people back into work and addressing health inequalities, helping people and communities achieve real, practical improvements 

Taken together, the SNP’s proposals align well with long-standing priorities for the profession and recognise occupational therapy as a key contributor to sustainable, person-centred health and social care. 

What the opposition parties manifestos’ means for occupational therapy 

The Scottish Greens’ manifesto sets out a vision for health and social care that focuses on preventing problems before they start, supporting people close to home, and promoting people’s rights. Occupational therapy is seen as an important part of making this approach work in practice. 

The manifesto also commits to making better use of allied health professionals, especially in rural and island communities, and to expanding team‑based working in GP practices. This suggests occupational therapists will have a stronger role in primary care, mental health services and community‑based support. 

Scottish Labour’s proposals would significantly strengthen the role of occupational therapy by shifting care into community settings, expanding neighbourhood health hubs, and delivering a right to rehabilitation for people recovering from surgery or living with long-term conditions. Improved workforce planning, digital records, mental health integration, accessible housing and better support for work transitions would enhance continuity of care and increase demand for OTs across primary care, rehabilitation, mental health and social care. 

Similarly, the Scottish Liberal Democrats place a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary working in primary care, prevention, and faster access to community-based services. Proposals to embed AHPs in GP practices, expand mental health and paediatric support, strengthen rural healthcare, and invest in workforce retention would increase opportunities for OTs across primary care, education, mental health and preventative services, while reducing pressure on hospitals. 

The Conservatives’ NHS proposals have more limited direct relevance for occupational therapy, with a primary focus on reducing waiting lists, streamlining bureaucracy and expanding medical capacity. While workforce planning, mental health hubs and a unified NHS IT system could indirectly support AHP roles, the plans place less emphasis on rehabilitation, community-based care or preventative services where occupational therapy typically has the greatest impact. 

Our next steps 

We have now sent our open letter to all political party leaders. Which just under 300 signatories, it clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling across the occupational therapy profession in Scotland. 

As your professional body, we are ready to engage constructively with political leaders and key stakeholders on the issues that matter most to occupational therapists and the people you support. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be meeting with political stakeholders, setting out our priorities and making clear how occupational therapy is central to addressing Scotland’s health and social care challenges. 

We will continue to keep you informed on our engagement, any opportunities to get involved and the responses we receive.  

Keep up to date by following us on social media and the RCOT Communities Scotland network.