Deputy First Minister John Swinney was right to say last week that the Budget he announced for next year was “bleak”. His decision to raise income tax rates for the better off, while justified, will also hit the incomes of middle income families who are not rich.
The settlement for local government also looks miserly and will likely lead to job losses and service cuts. Paying more to get less is nobody’s idea of fun.
Answers must also be provided about the outcomes linked to the extra cash for the NHS. Therefore it is essential the Government, when asking people to pay a bit more, ensures its own house is in order.
Our story today raises questions about whether government departments are making the same sort of sacrifices as families. A leaked forecast shows the Government is poised for an £80million overspend on its own running costs.
Most of this relates to staff. You cannot make hundreds of millions of pounds worth of “savings” across the public sector, as well as increase taxes, only to overspend on your own budget.
The Scottish Government will no doubt counter by saying they will rein in staff costs and rationalise their estate by reviewing their accommodation.
This would be welcome but the pace of this efficiency exercise is too slow and Scots will likely feel there is a double standard. Scots must be convinced the Government is as careful with its budgets as families are with theirs.
NHS the priority
Ward closures because of Covid, flu and sickness bugs sweeping the country are beginning to be felt at the front doors of our hospitals.
And with more than 300 beds lost to delayed discharge in the country’s biggest health board alone, it is a worrying time for frontline NHS staff who have been dreading the forthcoming winter crisis.
It is, therefore, essential that patients who can be seen at medical services other than A&E do so to prevent a complete meltdown.
And we plead with those needing essential treatment to be patient with our hardworking heroes who are under enormous pressure and working with fewer staff than is necessary – including thousands of nurse vacancies.
But those in charge of the NHS have had plenty of warnings that this winter would present major problems as we come back from Covid so they should be well prepared for whatever the season can throw at us.
Saving the NHS must be the priority for us all this winter, from patients to the Health Secretary and the First Minister. Anything less will be catastrophic.
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