Scots back tax hikes to boost NHS during economic downturn

Published on Sunday 28 June 2009 21:58

ALMOST half of Scots believe taxes should increase to help protect NHS services during the economic downturn, research revealed yesterday.

A survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) found that 47 per cent of Scots supported tax rises to help maintain the growth in funding the health service has seen in recent years, compared with 40 per cent for the UK as a whole.

The research also found that 76 per cent of people in Scotland believed cuts should be made in other government departments to protect NHS funding.

The results, released as 500 UK doctors gathered in Liverpool for their annual conference, comes after the Calman review of devolution earlier this month backed giving greater powers over tax to Holyrood.

Experts and politicians have warned that the financial crisis means that funding for public services will not grow as substantially as it has previously.

The BMA research, involving 1,071 people across the UK and more than 200 in Scotland, found significant concerns about health services being cut.

Nine out of ten (89 per cent) of those questioned across the UK were worried that waiting times could increase during the recession, while 90 per cent feared services would be cut.

The research also found that 82 per cent thought health facilities could close, while 80 per cent were worried that clinical staff could be made redundant.

Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: "The public is clearly concerned about the impact of cuts in public sector funding and fears of increased waiting times and service cuts mean that the Scottish Government must take firm action to protect the NHS in this tough economic climate.

"These poll results show how anxious the public is about the impact of the recession on the NHS and there is clear support for an increase in taxation to protect NHS funding, which is particularly relevant to the current constitutional debate under way in Scotland."

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA Council, said: "No-one wants to see any cuts in the public sector but our poll reveals just how much society values their health service.

"People always need good quality healthcare and it would be a mistake to try and make savings by squeezing the NHS."

The survey produced conflicting opinion on the use of private companies to provide NHS services. Across the UK, 59 per cent of people agreed that the private sector should be involved more in providing NHS care.

But 47 per cent also said there should be no further contracts for commercial companies to provide NHS services.

In Scotland, the private sector is used much less in the NHS than in England.

Last year's BMA conference in Edinburgh saw Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon given a standing ovation by doctors for her stance on the issue.

Many doctors remain opposed to increased use of the private sector in the NHS and this year's BMA conference includes a motion calling for "a national day of industrial action against the privatisation of the NHS".

But Dr Meldrum said he "did not see anything on the horizon" in terms of industrial action by doctors during a flu pandemic.

A Scottish Government spokesman said:

"Only full fiscal autonomy will enable us to take the decisions needed to address all the priorities of our people."