Swinney can’t give ‘specific figure’ on NHS job losses under planned reforms

John Swinney has said he cannot put a “specific figure” on how many jobs might be lost as part of plans to cut the number of Scotland’s health boards.

The First Minister said that he has been open about the fact he thinks “public sector employment will fall” over the parliamentary term but could not give a precise number.

In his Programme for Government this week, Swinney announced plans to reduce the number of territorial health boards in Scotland from 14 to just two.

The First Minister is also looking to create a new structure for local government, and said this week that there should be “fewer” councils than the current 32.

In an interview on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Swinney was asked a number of times how many NHS jobs would go as a result of the plans.

He said: “I can’t put a specific figure on that today and I simply wouldn’t be giving a comprehensive answer if that was the case.

“What we’ve got to work our way through is a programme of reform to make sure that we put people right at the very centre of the delivery of public services, so that they can see the enhancement in the provision of those services in their localities.

“And that will apply through all of the public service reform that we take forward, from the point of principle that services must improve for individuals, and we will ensure that Scotland is rewired, that public services are reimagined to make sure that we deliver on public expectations in the years to come.”

Swinney also said that it would “not be my intention” for people to travel further to access NHS services.

It is proposed that one board covers the east and the other the west of the country.

The First Minister said: “What I want to make sure is that by removing health board boundaries we maximise the number of local services that can be provided as close to home as possible for individuals in different parts of the country, and that’s the thinking that’s gone into the two board approach to make sure that the resources of the National Health Service across the country can be deployed in a fashion that delivers equity of access to everybody, regardless of where they live in the country.”

Swinney was also asked what savings could be made to cover the £5 billion shortfall that the Scottish Government is facing by the end of the decade.

He said there are “countless variables that affect the public finances” and that the key challenge is to “live within the resources that we have available” as well as increasing economic growth.

Opposition parties said more detail about the proposals is needed.

Scottish Labour acting leader Jackie Baillie said: “It’s hard to tell whether John Swinney is being evasive or simply has no idea what he is going to do, but either way it’s not good enough.

“People’s jobs are on the line and our public services could be plunged into chaos – Scotland deserves to know what lies ahead.

“SNP chaos has done enough damage to our services and our finances already.

“The SNP must come clean about what it is planning, how many jobs are at risk and what it will mean for our public services.”

Scottish Conservatives finance and social security spokesman Craig Hoy MSP said: “John Swinney was asked a basic question about his own plans and repeatedly refused to answer it.

“He cannot say how many NHS jobs could be lost yet expects Scots to believe he has a grip on the SNP’s £5 billion budget black hole.

“This is a First Minister completely out of his depth, trying to bluff his way through the mounting financial chaos his party has created.

“After 19 years of SNP government, they still cannot bring themselves to make the difficult decisions needed to get spending under control.

“Scots don’t need more waffle, gimmicks and empty promises from John Swinney – they need a First Minister who can actually balance the books and deliver for hardworking taxpayers.”