Four graphs that expose the state of Scotland’s NHS

Today’s Scottish government budget was tax-rise heavy – to the dismay of both individual earners and businesses — in the name of public service support. But while finance secretary Shona Robison spoke of her government’s ‘values’ of equality, opportunity and community, as well as the importance of its ‘social contract with the people of Scotland’, she failed to acknowledge the state her country’s public services are in. 

Robison mentioned the NHS over ten times throughout her speech, using it to justify the contents of today’s budget. But Scotland’s health service is struggling more than ever; some hospitals are so congested that it is becoming the norm for dozens of patients to spend the night in corridors. Others have been given ‘wireless doorbells‘ to call for help during busy times.

While the Barnett formula ensures that people in Scotland receive more spending per head than those in England, the country’s NHS continues to underperform.