Nurses and other health service workers could have their pensions increased under independence, according to Health Secretary Alex Neil.
In an interview with The Courier ahead of the Scottish Government’s final public cabinet meeting in Arbroath on Monday, the SNP minister dropped a heavy hint better terms and conditions could be on the cards if there is a Yes vote next month.
Mr Neil said any budget cuts could be “lethal” as he pointed out he has no control over the money allocated by Westminster or pension policy, which he said has left workers paying larger contributions but having to work at least an extra year before they can retire.
The fully devolved health service has been something of a political football on the campaign trail, with the pro-independence side being accused of scaremongering after claiming funding would be slashed in the event of a No vote.
“At a time of pay restraint, the impact of those additional pension contributions has been to depress further the living standards of people working in the health service,” said Mr Neil.
“We have made it absolutely clear if we get a Yes vote we will review the whole pensions reforms with a view to bringing them into line with what is right for Scotland.”
Dr Philippa Whitford, one of Scotland’s top breast cancer surgeons, has said the country’s NHS budget will face serious pressure as a result of a privatisation of the health service south of the border.
The Better Together campaign rejects this, saying that even if the English health service made greater use of private health care providers, it would not impact on Scotland’s budget as they would still be funded from the public purse.
And the Treasury recently pointed to a Scottish Government publication showing funding has gone up by £284.6 million as a rejection of the claim.
Mr Neil said: “Look at the facts. The facts are, as we speak £5.5 billion worth of tenders are out to the private sector in England to privatise services within the National Health Service.
“Dr Philippa Whitford is pointing out that in large parts of England elements of the aftercare for women who have had their breast cancer operations have been privatised and sometimes they are having to pay for services which previously were free or are free in Scotland.
“The danger is that, with £25 billion worth of cuts promised by George Osborne on top of the existing cuts along with the privatisation agenda down south, which is designed to save money and further reduce the health budget, that combination could be lethal in terms of its impact on the health service in Scotland.”