NHS staff could miss out on Scotland’s World Cup Bank Holiday

Scotland’s NHS staff could miss out on Scotland’s World Cup Bank Holiday, the deputy first minister has confirmed.

Kate Forbes said on Wednesday that a public holiday for staff would be a decision for each individual NHS board.

First Minister John Swinney previously proposed a bank holiday the day after Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti.

He said that Monday, June 15, should be designated as a national holiday to mark Scotland’s participation in the tournament for the first time since 1998.

Steve Clarke’s men qualified last year for the major finals in North America, drawing in a group with Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.

The opener against the Haitians is on Sunday, June 14, with a kick-off time of around 2am, UK time.

The Tartan Army would be allowed the chance to celebrate into the wee hours with the following day as a bank holiday.

However, Forbes has not confirmed that NHS staff will be granted the public holiday.

In a written answer to Independent MSP Ash Regan, the deputy First Minister said the Scottish Government would “encourage employers, including NHS Boards, to be as flexible as possible to ensure their staff have the opportunity to celebrate the team’s success.”

Regan fears that leaving the decision in the hands of each NHS Board will leave NHS staff out.

“Left to absorb the costs themselves it is likely Scotland’s 180,000 NHS staff will miss out,” Regan said.

“That is why the Scottish Government must confirm that all NHS staff will receive the day off in line with previous additional Bank holidays that Scottish Government staff were entitled to.”