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Scottish NHS would face '£450m black hole' under independence Scottish NHS 'would face £450m black hole' under independence, leaked documents claim
(about 7 hours later)
The future of the National Health Service was thrust to the forefront of the Scottish independence campaign following claims that hospitals would face a funding black hole of up to £450m in a separate nation.The future of the National Health Service was thrust to the forefront of the Scottish independence campaign following claims that hospitals would face a funding black hole of up to £450m in a separate nation.
The papers, which were submitted last month to health board chief executives and civil servants, claimed that Nationalist obligations were “not fully funded” and the “status quo in terms of service and workforce planning is not an option”.The papers, which were submitted last month to health board chief executives and civil servants, claimed that Nationalist obligations were “not fully funded” and the “status quo in terms of service and workforce planning is not an option”.
The figure, which emerged in leaked documents passed to the BBC and the Herald newspaper, was dismissed as “absolutely untrue” by the First Minister, Alex Salmond. But leaders of the pro-Union campaign said the forecast proved the Scottish Nationalists had deceived voters about the financial perils of independence.The figure, which emerged in leaked documents passed to the BBC and the Herald newspaper, was dismissed as “absolutely untrue” by the First Minister, Alex Salmond. But leaders of the pro-Union campaign said the forecast proved the Scottish Nationalists had deceived voters about the financial perils of independence.
The financial shortfall is estimated at between £400m and £450m in the 2015/16 financial year, which is described as “significantly in excess of that previously required”. It adds that health boards will have to consider such options as centralising hospitals and closing services.The financial shortfall is estimated at between £400m and £450m in the 2015/16 financial year, which is described as “significantly in excess of that previously required”. It adds that health boards will have to consider such options as centralising hospitals and closing services.
The leak follows attempts by Mr Salmond to make the NHS a central issue in the referendum campaign which is now entering its final 48 hours.The leak follows attempts by Mr Salmond to make the NHS a central issue in the referendum campaign which is now entering its final 48 hours.
The First Minister today said claims of cuts were “mythical”, pointing to plans passed in the Scottish Parliament this year that will see the overall health budget rise from £11.9bn to £12.7bn next year.The First Minister today said claims of cuts were “mythical”, pointing to plans passed in the Scottish Parliament this year that will see the overall health budget rise from £11.9bn to £12.7bn next year.
Mr Salmond told Good Morning Scotland: “What this paper does is part of the normal planning in the health service.Mr Salmond told Good Morning Scotland: “What this paper does is part of the normal planning in the health service.
”It says we'll need 3.5 per cent efficiencies in order to meet commitments in the rising cost of procedures in the health service.”It says we'll need 3.5 per cent efficiencies in order to meet commitments in the rising cost of procedures in the health service.
Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling have clashed over the future of the NHS “In the last six years we have managed 3 per cent and that's all been ploughed back, every single penny of it, into the health service. That's why we have increased funding in real terms.”Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling have clashed over the future of the NHS “In the last six years we have managed 3 per cent and that's all been ploughed back, every single penny of it, into the health service. That's why we have increased funding in real terms.”
But the leader of Better Together, Alistair Darling, said the leak showed that Mr Salmond and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, had misled Scottish voters.But the leader of Better Together, Alistair Darling, said the leak showed that Mr Salmond and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, had misled Scottish voters.
He told Good Morning Scotland: “Today we learn that Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon have been deceiving us.He told Good Morning Scotland: “Today we learn that Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon have been deceiving us.
“We find they are planning to cut £450m from Scotland's health budget, something over which they have total control, and yet they were going to keep this under wraps until after the referendum.“We find they are planning to cut £450m from Scotland's health budget, something over which they have total control, and yet they were going to keep this under wraps until after the referendum.
”I find that quite appalling after all the things they have been saying about the health service, all these scare stories and all the time they have known that these cuts were coming along but we weren't going to be told about it until after the polls close.””I find that quite appalling after all the things they have been saying about the health service, all these scare stories and all the time they have known that these cuts were coming along but we weren't going to be told about it until after the polls close.”