Meeting of the Parliament 12 March 2026 [Draft]
I thank the First Minister for that answer. However, much as I accept that people have a choice, I am concerned that more people are accessing private healthcare not out of choice but out of necessity, in the face of prolonged and painful waits for NHS care.
The situation can only be exacerbated if more of our experienced medics are spending less time in the NHS and more time in private practice. For years, we have heard from clinicians that working in the NHS is becoming more difficult as demand for care rises and waiting time backlogs remain stubbornly high. Is it any wonder that, under the SNP, more staff are leaving the NHS for the private sector?
What will the First Minister do to ensure that experienced medical professionals—many of whom have received their education and experience in Scotland—are encouraged to continue working for the NHS throughout their careers, not only with a fair salary but with investment in technology and prevention in order to improve the working environment for our NHS staff?