LABOUR and the SNP have clashed after a leading surgeon warned the NHS in Scotland faced privatisation unless Scots voted for independence.
Dr Philippa Whitford, a breast cancer specialist at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, made the claim in a speech to Yes campaign group Women for Independence.
She said: "In five years England will not have an NHS and in 10 years, if we vote No, neither will we."
Health is devolved to the Scottish Parliament. However, she argued cuts down south would make privatisation by the back door inevitable in Scotland.
Her comments were backed yesterday by the SNP.
MSP Aileen McLeod said: "These comments bring the choice of two futures facing Scotland in September into stark focus - with a Yes vote we can protect and invest in our NHS, whereas a No vote would see it hit by the impact of Westminster cuts to the Scottish budget.
"With a Yes vote we can ensure that not only will Tory privatisation of the service be stopped at the border - but that our NHS remains properly funded."
Labour accused the Nationalists of "scaremongering". Health spokesman Neil Findlay said: "This looks like deliberate misinformation from a campaign which is resorted to making up things to scare people."
He added: "The Nationalists should be focusing on the problems that are impacting on patients on their watch rather than scaremongering."
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