Alex Neil has refused to rule out cuts to local NHS services in the Scottish Parliament today.
Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser challenged the Health Secretary to give a “cast iron” guarantee that there would be no cuts to NHS services in Tayside, Fife and Forth Valley.
This follows on from reports that NHS Board chiefs were secretly discussing cuts of up to £450 million which would mean centrally locating services.
Murdo Fraser: The leaked memo from NHS health board chiefs that was previously referred to said that boards would have to consider centralising hospitals and closing services. Can the cabinet secretary give us a cast-iron guarantee that, across Fife, Tayside and Forth valley, there will be no such centralising or closing of services? Specifically, can he give us that guarantee in relation to services at Perth royal infirmary?
Alex Neil: The memo that was leaked contained some thoughts of a number of chief executives and does not represent Government policy. The member knows perfectly well that any proposals for service redesign go through a very intense process, including a major process of public engagement. I certainly have no intention of redesigning services in a way that leads to any retrograde steps in the quality of provision. We will certainly always ensure that any proposals for change have to go through a comprehensive exercise of public engagement, as we have always done. The biggest threat to the national health service in Scotland is the £25 billion-worth of cuts that are being promised by George Osborne and Ed Balls. That is the real threat to the national health service in Scotland.
Commenting after Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“It must be a matter of concern that the SNP Health Secretary refused to rule out cuts to local health services. People will be very worried about what this means for the future of PRI and other institutions.”