The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Two-tier health system talks should be investigated, say Scottish Tories
An urgent investigation is being called for by the Scottish Tories after NHS chiefs discussed the creation of a “two-tier” health service which would charge the wealthy.
Audit Scotland has been urged to intervene after leaked minutes of a September meeting with senior health officials say they were given the “green light” to discuss reforms by NHS Scotland chief executive Caroline Lamb.
One suggestion in the minutes, seen by the BBC, was to “design a two-tier system” which would see those who could afford to, go private.
Nicola Sturgeon quashed the discussion yesterday as she said she was “emphatically” against the idea, stating the principles of the NHS were “not up for discussion”.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf also shot down the claims, which he described as “abhorrent”.
It comes as the health service in Scotland faces crisis, with weekly A&E waits within four hours remaining significantly below the 95% target, at 65.3% on the week ending November 13.
Despite the Scottish Government’s moves to dismiss suggestions of a two-tier system, Tory MSP Craig Hoy has said the public needs to know why such radical proposals were being debated.
He said: “Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf may have been at pains to try to shoot these reports down but that should not be the end of the matter.
“We need Audit Scotland to investigate the controversy surrounding this meeting.
“The leaked minutes clearly suggest NHS leaders were given the green light to think the unthinkable – including patient charging.”
The issue was addressed by Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane in Holyrood yesterday.
In response, Mr Yousaf said: “It is genuinely laughable that Sandesh Gulhane thinks this is a really good use of Audit Scotland’s time.”
He added: “It does not represent the view of NHS chief executives, nor NHS chairs, nor the chief executive of the NHS, nor the chief operating officer, and may I say, most importantly, by anybody in government.”