Philippa Whitford MP warns of Scottish repercussions for NHS England crisis

[Northerner]

DR PHILIPPA WHITFORD MP, the SNP’s Westminster health spokesperson, has said that there could be damaging repercussions in the Scottish NHS as a result of the decline of the English health service following one of the worst winters for the NHS England in recent years.

The British Red Cross warned of a humanitarian crisis in NHS England hospitals after two patients died after long stays on hospital trolleys earlier in January. Hospitals, staff, beds and ambulance services are stretched beyond capacity most winters in the UK, with most of the worst incidents in NHS England, which has been transformed in recent years and decades by the expansion of private sector involvement.

Whitford said that the degradation of NHS England, which she believes is planned, could lead to threats against the Scottish service, which is controlled in Scotland but funded from the UK block grant.

https://www.commonspace.scot/articl...rns-scottish-repercussions-nhs-england-crisis

 

[grovesy]

She could be right, I watched speak in Parliament and she always talks sense to me.

 

[mikeyB]

Yup. I think the time has come in Scotland to pick up Scottish Labours idea of a "penny on income tax", that is, a basic rate of 21%, with that hypothecated to the NHS in Scotland. Few would mind if it was for sure just for the health service.

 

[trophywench]

Most of us - with any sense! - wouldn't mind it in England either Mike !

 

[mikeyB]

Aye, Jenny. I wouldn't trust the English government to hypothecate it though. They just do not want the NHS to survive, that's why the Scots government is worried about the block grant.