John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, reportedly acknowledged this week that the deteriorating state of the NHS is becoming a major electoral issue. The alleged admission came during a meeting with top health officials at his official residence, Bute House.
Private Summit, Public Scrutiny
Swinney convened a closed-door meeting on Monday with key figures from Scotland’s healthcare sector. Officially, the talks were meant to discuss turning his new NHS strategy into action. However, insiders claim the gathering was more about optics than policy.
One source present at the meeting told The Telegraph that the First Minister openly admitted his government had “an electoral problem” tied to the NHS crisis. With polls showing growing dissatisfaction over the SNP’s handling of healthcare, the pressure is mounting ahead of the May 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.
Notably, Swinney reportedly dismissed detailed questioning on his recovery plan, stating the summit was “not a question-and-answer session.” This has raised further concerns about whether the government has a viable strategy to address Scotland’s record-breaking NHS waiting lists.
Unanswered Questions on NHS Reform
Despite Swinney’s pledge to improve healthcare delivery, critics say the plan lacks specifics. One of the biggest concerns is staffing: how will the government recruit enough personnel to meet its promise of 150,000 additional procedures and appointments this year?
- Waiting lists remain at record highs, with backlogs for surgeries and specialist treatments growing.
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies recently reported that Scotland’s NHS is worsening while England’s is seeing “substantial” improvements.
- Audit Scotland issued a stark warning, stating that difficult decisions may be needed about which services can continue.
The government insists it is working on solutions, but critics argue the plan is little more than repackaged promises.
NHS Workers Express Frustration
Health professionals who attended the summit say the meeting felt more like a publicity stunt than a genuine effort to address issues. One source even suggested that inviting them to the grandeur of Bute House was a deliberate intimidation tactic.
“There’s a sense that this was all for show,” said one attendee. Another expressed surprise that public outrage hasn’t been louder, given the state of Scotland’s hospitals. “Care in corridors has been normalised,” they noted grimly.
Health Secretary Sidetracked
A particularly awkward moment at the summit involved Health Secretary Neil Gray. According to sources, Gray appeared sidelined as Swinney took direct control of NHS policy. This comes amid controversy over Gray’s use of a government limousine to attend Aberdeen football matches, raising further questions about his leadership.
Meanwhile, Swinney has taken over weekly NHS crisis meetings, signaling a lack of confidence in his health secretary’s ability to handle the situation. Last month, he scrapped Nicola Sturgeon’s failed Covid recovery plan and introduced his own, but doubts remain about its feasibility.
Where Does the NHS Go from Here?
Swinney’s new strategy includes boosting hospital capacity for key procedures:
| Procedure Type | Additional Planned in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Cataract surgeries | 9,500 |
| Orthopedic procedures (e.g., hip/knee replacements) | 2,500 |
Unions and NHS professional bodies remain skeptical, questioning how these targets will be met without proper funding and staffing plans.
Political Fallout Looms
The Scottish Tories have been quick to capitalize on Swinney’s alleged remarks, with Shadow Health Secretary Dr. Sandesh Gulhane accusing the SNP of “recycled broken promises.” With an election on the horizon, the government’s handling of healthcare is shaping up to be a defining issue.
For now, Swinney’s office maintains that the meeting was a sincere attempt to engage with healthcare leaders. But with no concrete answers on funding or recruitment, skepticism continues to grow.
