Claims Scotland’s NHS would be in danger if independence is rejected next week have been slammed as “doubly wrong” by a leading academic.
Professor Hugh Pennington hit out at Yes campaign rhetoric as Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon joined forces with Welsh Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood to claim leaving the UK would “protect Scotland’s NHS from Tory cuts”.
Professor Pennington said the 2014 Treasury Red Book shows an English NHS budget of £105.5 billion for 2013/14 and £110.4 billion for 2015/16.
He added: “‘NHS for Yes’ says that ‘the more Westminster politicians cut NHS spending the lower the Scottish Government’s NHS budget becomes’.
“This is doubly wrong; the budget is not being cut, and the Scottish Government sets its own budget for health.
“The sum of money that comes to Scotland via the Barnett formula is not ring-fenced; the Scottish government can spend it as it wishes.”
Ms Sturgeon and Ms Wood pointed to an estimated 3.6% in real terms cut to health spending in Wales, which Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones and his health minister Mark Drakeford have blamed on Westminster cuts.
A letter signed by 66 current and former health and support professionals, which warns against the threat of privatisation of the NHS in England, was also published in a newspaper.
Ms Sturgeon said: “As these experts point out, warnings across the UK about the threat to the NHS could not be stronger and Scotland is not immune from this threat.”
Ms Wood added: “My message today is simple a Yes vote is the opportunity of a lifetime for the people of Scotland to start building a fairer and more prosperous society.”