Scottish Independence and the NHS

Scottish Independence and the NHS

The talk of the country has been Scottish Independence of late. Polls are being held, politicians are shouting from stages and the Scottish nationals prepare for a vote that will have dramatic consequences either way, but how would these changes impact the NHS if they were to go through?

What would Scottish independence mean for the NHS?

Contrary to belief, the separation of the Scottish NHS from the rest of the UK would not have a direct impact on England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Scottish NHS is currently run by the Scottish parliament and a breaking of the union would change nothing there. What would change is that they would no longer be directly affected by the decisions of the parliament in Westminster, be they for better or worse, as some critics in favour of separation believe that the NHS is well on its way to being broken up and privatised 

Further to this, cuts are anticipated across public services as part of the United Kingdom’s austerity policy to force its way out of the recession. Interestingly, as reported by Nick Robinson on the BBC, the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Labour have all included policies to grant the Scottish Parliament more powers over their spending, enabling them to tax and spend more or less than the rest of the UK, something that would reinforce the position of the NHS in Scotland.

How would this affect individual treatment?

It depends on which side of the argument you choose to listen to as to whether people will get better healthcare or not. Gordon Brown recently put forward figures suggesting that the NHS spends £176 per head on Scottish people, compared to just £159 per head in England, which would suggest that being independent would have unwanted consequences regarding the total expenditure of the NHS for Scotland. Conversely, a greater degree of control over when and where the finances need to go for the Scottish Parliament in theory provides them with the ability to fund the sectors most relevant to the Scottish population without having to concern themselves with the rest of the United Kingdom. 

Would Scottish people still be treated in the UK?

Yes. The good news is that this would not mean that people become fearful of crossing the border in case of ill health. Due to the current EU directives, all residents of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland are to be treated by the local health services dependent on their clinical need. This means that all Scottish people can be treated in the UK and United Kingdom citizens can be treated in Scotland. 

What are your thoughts regarding Scottish Independence? Let us know at @NTJobs with #NTJobsScotlandNHS