We need a new tax to rescue NHS, says former SNP health secretary

A FORMER SNP health secretary has called for a separate tax to be introduced to avoid a major crisis in the NHS.

Alex Neil, now an SNP backbencher, said that the ‘controversial levy’ would save the NHS and insisted that failure to act could see a breakdown of vital services within the next four to five years.

The Scottish Government has been criticised over its running of the service, with critics claiming there is a ‘staffing crisis’.

Mr Neil, who recently suffered a heart attack, claimed that an additional £10billion a year had to be raised across the UK by the end of this parliament to bring health and social care spending to the same level as Germany, where 10.5 per cent of GDP goes on services.

In Scotland this would mean an extra £800million to £900million through an additional tax, ring-fenced for health and social spending.

Mr Neil added: ‘The whole British system is in stress and while efficiency savings are needed, they will not be enough, which is why I float the idea of a separate health tax – deeply controversial but cannot be ignored. I’ve suggested a major tax change which should apply across the UK, not just in Scotland, and that is a dedicated health and social care tax.’

The NHS accounts for 40 per cent of the Government’s budget, a proportion that cannot be significantly increased without impacting on other areas, Mr Neil said. However, he insisted more must be done to secure and retain doctors, nurses and midwives in Scotland. The plan was published by the Options for Scotland think-tank run by former SNP leader Gordon Wilson.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘It appears Alex Neil is so dissatisfied with his own Government’s running of the NHS he deems it necessary to go his own way on the matter. SNP HQ will be furious.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We are investing record amounts in the health service and staff numbers are also at an alltime high. We will do everything required to ensure Scotland continues to have world class health care and will consider all positive suggestions. However, we have no plans to introduce a hypothecated health tax.’

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