Senior NHS bosses have reportedly discussed making wealthier Scots pay for treatment as the health service struggles to meet demand.
Draft minutes of an executive-level meeting in September were leaked to BBC Scotland and show the introduction of a "two-tier" system was one item discussed.
Health secretary Humza Yousaf dismissed the report's findings as "complete baloney" and insisted the Scottish Government would never introduce charges for health care. The need to end some free prescriptions was also discussed according to the confidential minutes.
Bosses debated the "billion pound hole" in the health budget and were given the the "green light to present what boards feel reform may look like" and that "areas which were previously not viable options are now possibilities".
The meeting reportedly criticises government with the group having "concern" about the alleged lack of clinical input into political decision making.
Minutes of the meeting noted: "Unscheduled care is going to fall over in the near term before planned care falls over."
The group also suggested "fundamental reform" of the primary care model "must be on the table". The report continued by saying the success of the health service has been built on a model "that no longer works today".
The minutes added: "Concern was noted that there may be siloed discussions ongoing within Scottish government that do not include CMO/CNO (Chief Medical/Nursing Officer)."
Yousaf insisted today the Government had "never contemplated" charging Scots for treatment.
He tweeted: "SNP-led ScotGovt has never contemplated charging anyone, regardless of wealth for treatment on NHS, never will. Our record demonstrates our commitment to NHS core values; abolishing prescription charges, removal of dental charges for young people, continued funding free eye tests. Any suggestion otherwise is, frankly, complete baloney."
Yousaf previously warned the health service faces its "most challenging" winter ever due as it attempts to recover from the devastating covid pandemic.
Earlier this month the NHS recorded its record ever on A&E waiting times. This report comes just days after a nurse strike was put on hold due to new pay talks. Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour health spokeswoman, repeated her demand for Yousaf to resign as health secretary.
She said: "These damning minutes show just how much harm Humza Yousaf and the SNP have done to our NHS. Across our country hospitals are overwhelmed, staff are demoralised and patients are being put in danger. Rather than deal with this crisis we now learn that NHS chiefs are secretly describing privatisation and making people pay for their care.
"While the SNP fail to support staff and patients, we now know that those trusted with protecting our health service are talking about betraying it. We simply can’t go on like this and allow the SNP to slowly privatise our NHS. It’s time Mr Yousaf did the right thing and went."
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
