NHS bosses debate making wealthy Scots pay for treatment under 'two-tier' health service

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Senior NHS bosses have reportedly discussed making wealthier Scots pay for treatment as the health service struggles to meet demand.Draft minutes of an executive-level meeting in September were leaked to BBC Scotland and show the introduction of a "two-tier" system was one item discussed.

Health secretary Humza Yousaf dismissed the report's findings as "complete baloney" and insisted the Scottish Government would never introduce charges for health care.

The need to end some free prescriptions was also discussed according to the confidential minutes.Bosses debated the "billion pound hole" in the health budget and were given the the "green light to present what boards feel reform may look like" and that "areas which were previously not viable options are now possibilities".The meeting reportedly criticises government with the group having "concern" about the alleged lack of clinical input into political decision making.Minutes of the meeting noted: "Unscheduled care is going to fall over in the near term before planned care falls over."The group also suggested "fundamental reform" of the primary care model "must be on the table".

The report continued by saying the success of the health service has been built on a model "that no longer works today".The minutes added: "Concern was noted that there may be siloed discussions ongoing within Scottish government that do not include CMO/CNO (Chief Medical/Nursing Officer)."Yousaf insisted today the Government had "never contemplated" charging Scots for treatment.He tweeted: "SNP-led ScotGovt has never contemplated charging anyone, regardless of wealth for treatment on NHS, never will.