The NHS’s biggest cash injection in the history of devolution risks being squandered by SNP incompetence, Labour has warned.
Party health spokesperson Jackie Baillie has spoken out after the Scottish Government’s plans for a National Care Service were all but ditched last week.
Health Secretary Neil Gray also became further embroiled in scandal over his use of limos to attend football matches.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an extra £3.4billion for Scotland in October’s budget after changing borrowing rules and increasing tax in order to fund crumbling public services.
The cash will be delivered to the Scottish Government in the form of a major boost to its block grant with a huge portion to be spend on heath.
But Baillie said: “Half of the new money that’s coming up is going to health – the figure is £1.72billion pounds next year, and £789million this year – that’s the biggest uplift in the history of devolution.
“It has the potential to be transformational but I’m not convinced the SNP government have the vision, the ideas or even the practical understanding to implement real change and that is a tragedy.
“Labour created the NHS and now Labour has delivered the money to take it out of the current crisis and make it fit for the future while retaining the founding principle that it will be free at the point of delivery.
“But the NHS, actually it needs reform, and reform should come before more money because there has been serious financial mismanagement.
“I don’t think the SNP know what they’re doing – we’ve had a succession of health ministers, a complete lack of leadership and strategic direction, scandal after scandal, and it is not an exaggeration to say people are dying as a result.”
Baillie, who is also Labour’s Deputy Leader and widely regarded as one of the key architects behind the party’s revived fortunes in Scotland, added: “I have enormous respect for staff in the NHS.
“They are working their socks off, trying really hard to keep the service going against this backdrop of mismanagement and waste.”
Baillie has outlined a string of reforms she would implement if Labour takes control at Holyrood in 2026 including a patient app and other technology to drive efficiency, as well as investments in social care and GP services.
Labour has also proposed reducing bureaucracy by cutting the number of health boards. She said: “You need to get primary care right because that is where you can prevent loads of illnesses that will go on to ruin lives and cost the NHS huge sums.
“In terms of technology, in England patients have an app which can be used to book appointments, get test results and sign up for trials.
“The app has actually been developed in Scotland but it isn’t available here.
“Instead we have wasted three years on a national care service plan now in ruins, while everything else is directionless and confused. I want the SNP to get out of the road so we can rebuild in an way that people deserve.”
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