SNP raised NHS funding

John Tulloch’s letter (Carmichael correct on NHS: SN 30/4/15) and the Lib Dems in their election material are determined that Shetland is being done down on NHS funding.

In 2005, the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition government established a review group on NHS funding, the NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC).

In 2007, the NRAC recommendations were agreed in a cross party review and the minority SNP government accepted the recommendations. See http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Finance/Resource-Allocation-Formula/

Effectively, the Lib Dems are complaining about a policy that is, at least in part, their policy.

In 2011, the model was reviewed by the majority SNP government to see if the model took into account remote and rural issues .

After the review, Shetland’s share is now higher, £4.01 million.

The chair of NHS Shetland is not complaining, think I will take his word on the matter.

Brian Nugent
Burra