There needs to be a “serious conversation” about NHS issues, says Swinney

There needs to be a “serious conversation” about the future of the NHS, First Minister John Swinney has said.

With just a week to go before the general election, the First Minister said a poll would likely see a Labour government form after 4 July, making NHS issues a “Labour issue”.

North of the border, health services are struggling with long waits for treatment, both in emergency departments and oncology departments.

The latest figures show that the Scottish Government has never met its target of ensuring that 95% of patients wait no longer than 62 days for treatment after an urgent suspicion referral for cancer treatment.

“We will have to see how the dialogue develops.

“In a week’s time on Friday, the health care issues I discussed with me will become a Labor Party issue.

“I am calling for a serious conversation about what lies ahead.”

He added that the Scottish Government had “made difficult decisions” – including increasing taxes – to increase funding for the health service.

The Prime Minister said England’s Labor plans would bring £134 million in funding to Scotland, less than the £237 million the country received in health impacts from the “terrible Tories” in the last spring budget revisions.

“We cannot extend austerity and that is what Labor is offering.

“Until Labor proposes a sensible exit from austerity, the people of Scotland will not take this seriously.”

The First Minister’s response, Sarwar said, was “embarrassing”.

“You have been leading the health service for 17 years, and the chairman of the BMA now claims that we have a two-tier health service,” he added.

Sarwar – who previously said the change his party is seeking is a “two-step process” – then pointed to the next Holyrood election.

“I look forward to having this honest conversation about the SNP Government’s actions on the NHS in the run-up to the 2026 election, and so can people across the country,” he said.