Health / NHS must observe World Cup holiday, health board says

Chris Cope

27 March 2026 11:30

NHS Shetland says it is obliged to observe the “World Cup” public holiday in June after a direction to all Scottish health boards from government.

The public holiday is taking place on Monday 15 June to mark Scotland’s participation in the football World Cup for the first time since 1998.

The idea, however, has already been kicked out by Shetland Islands Council, with elected members concerned about the estimated cost to the local authority of £140,000.

A number of other councils in Scotland have also decided against observing a bank holiday on 15 June, but some have approved it.

Scottish health secretary Neil Gray has now written to staff representatives at NHS to confirm they will have the chance to celebrate the sporting achievement.

First minister John Swinney also said he wanted to “ensure that our hard-working NHS staff have that opportunity, so I am pleased to confirm all NHS Scotland staff will benefit from the extra holiday.”

A spokesperson for NHS Shetland said: “As per the directive issued by Scottish Government on 25 March, NHS Shetland is obliged to observe the public holiday on Monday 15 June 2026.”

They added that NHS Shetland will “assess what this means for our local services and staffing, and we will communicate any arrangements in due course once this assessment has been completed”.

NHS Shetland does not fully close down on public holidays, with safe staffing levels ensured.

There has in the past been changes to some opening times, for example.

Scotland’s first match at the World Cup, against Haiti, is taking place in Boston at 2am UK time on Sunday 14 June.

Earlier this week Shetland councillors approved a late licence for the Lerwick Legion on Sunday 14 June, allowing it to stay open until 4am to show the opening game.

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