The Big Local Debate

In 1913 the Highlands and Islands Medical Service was set up to address health inequalities. In 1948, all health service provision was effectively nationalised by Nye Bevan so that hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists were brought together under one umbrella organisation to provide services that are free for all at the point of delivery.

It should be noted that Scotland has always had its own NHS, separate from that in England and Wales.

The central principle is clear: the health service will be available to all and financed entirely from taxation, which means that people pay into it according to their means.

Since 1999, health care has been devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Successive Scottish governments have resisted the lead by Westminster for increased privatisation within the health service. This privatisation can only lead to fragmented delivery, greater inefficiencies and profit being prioritised over patient care.

Scotland has seen many health innovations under devolution: Our world-leading patient safety programme with major reductions in levels of hospital healthcare associated infections (a programme which has been endorsed by Don Berwick, adviser on healthcare issues to Barack Obama) Significant reductions in premature mortality from cancer, heart disease and stroke Reduced waiting times and delayed discharge from hospital The removal of prescription charges and introduction of free eye test Protection of the frontline NHS budget A single vision for sustainable quality across health and social care services Agreement to the integration of adult health and social care services These have all been achieved using the limited powers of devolution but much more remains to be done and the enhanced powers of independence will ensure that Scotland continues to be at the forefront of health innovation.

In terms of the acute strategy for the Clyde area, the health board will maintain Inverclyde Royal with in-patient Accident and Emergency and trauma units, a minor injuries unit and a community midwifery unit. There will be joined up services throughout the area.

GPs will be able to refer rapidly to an immediate assessment unit that will contain senior specialist staff so that patients can be assessed and have a treatment plan put in place for their condition.

After independence, Scotland will maintain a strong relationship with the other countries of the UK.

Scotland will continue to work with other parts of the UK to provide services where this provides access to the highest quality of care and delivers the best outcomes.

There are already effective cross-border working arrangements in place, which will provide a strong foundation for continued co-operation, just as there is with Ireland.

Partnership arrangements are also in place with a number of European countries.

Therefore the NHS will continue to flourish after independence. For people in Inverclyde it will be free at point of contact, prescriptions will remain free and we will be building a positive future for our health care provision in Scotland.

Find us on Facebook or join our campaign by visiting www.yesinverclyde.net SCOTS enjoy around £1,300 more per head of public spending than people living in rest of the UK. And the Scottish Parliament rightly chooses to spend much of this extra money on our NHS.

So the key question for the Yes Campaign is to explain what possible advantages there are to patients in Inverclyde if they vote for independence.

Scotland’s had responsibility for its own health service since 1999 and our parliament has made some good decisions. We led the way with the smoking ban, we have free prescriptions and we are tackling the health problems brought about by alcohol.

Our NHS is one of the many institutions the UK built together. It’s something we all cherish - no matter where you are in the UK you can get treatment free. And, most importantly, Scottish doctors can refer you to wherever you need to go.

There are local children who have been sent to Great Ormond Street, adults who owe their eyesight to the Moorefield Eye Hospital in London and transplants have been carried out at some of England’s most prestigious teaching hospitals.

Could the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board afford to pay the full cost of all this to a foreign country?

Being part of the UK means the money we have to invest in our NHS is more secure. If we leave the UK, our over reliance on volatile and declining North Sea oil revenue would mean the funding to build new hospitals, employ nurses and look after our sick would be at risk.

And just how much time would an independent Scotland have to focus on health if we had to set up foreign embassies, create our own armed forces and disentangle ourselves from the rest of the UK? Greenock needs a new health centre. Would anybody even have time to think about it? Probably not.

Scotland has a proud medical tradition and we’ve always punched well above our weight. We have five medical schools and much of their income comes from charging students from the rest of the UK fees. If we became independent, the EU wouldn’t allow this, and it puts the future of our world-leading medical schools at risk, which could lead to fewer opportunities for local young people to train as doctors.

The same with medical research. We currently get around 13 per cent of medical research grants but make up only 8 per cent of the UK population. Leaving the UK would put this at risk and bright, young graduates from Inverclyde might have to leave Scotland to pursue their careers.

Then there’s the price of drugs. The UK has real clout when negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies. A smaller country may have less influence and a separate Scottish NHS could end up with a larger drug bill. How would that help people in Inverclyde?

Scotland already has all the health powers it needs to make our NHS a world leader. Patients in Inverclyde have nothing to gain from separation and everything to lose.

Find us on Facebook or join our campaign by visiting www.bettertogether.net