The Link Between Health and Wealth

Less people on hospital waiting lists means more people in productive work. 

In his letter (The Herald, September 1),  Clark Cross indicates Age Concern Scotland has reported one in three elderly people in Scotland have paid for private medical treatment or intend to do so.

The NHS was in good shape until the Conservative / Liberal Democrat Coalition UK Government introduced Austerity Economics in 2010, specifically to reduce spending on public services including the NHS.

Unfortunately, based on the current UK devolution rules, the Scottish Government funding is dictated by and adversely affected by UK 

Government austerity economic decisions. The Scottish Government don’t have the UK Government options to borrow or to increase currency to invest in resources like additional NHS hospital beds for example.

UK cuts in NHS spending are particularly frustrating, as NHS Confederation research indicates a growth in health care investment would result an economic growth equivalent to four times that investment.  Less people would be on hospital waiting lists and more people in productive work. 

It is not, as Mr Cross indicates a “mega-wasteful Scottish Government” but an economically incompetent, and apparently uncaring UK Government to blame. 

Understanding the importance of the NHS for the wellbeing of the people and for the economy, the Scottish Government has continued free prescriptions, a single prescription costs £9.35 in England, and the Scottish Government has negotiated with NHS staff to avoid strikes in Scotland, unlike in England. 

Tax lost by having tax deductible private medical care, as Mr Cross suggested, would be better spent on the NHS.

Link below indicating benefit of investing in the NHS

Presentation title (nhsconfed.org)

Jim Stamper

03/09/23