Scotland's struggling health services cannot improve without tax increases for higher earners, Humza Yousaf has said as he claimed emergency departments will start to recover after winter.
Health and social care services will be allocated £19 billion in the 2023/24 budget to tackle the pressures facing the NHS. It is the highest ever budget settlement for the sector, with an extra £1 billion being made available to help fund increased cash for health boards and pay deals.
The increase is being funded by an increase in tax for more than half a million Scots on higher tax rates. Earners making more than £43,662 will be affected, with higher and top rates of income tax increasing by 1p to 42p and 47p respectively.
