BMA Scotland tells Swinney to scrap his plan to cut 14 health boards to just two

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026.

BMA Scotland's chair Dr Nora Murray-Cavanagh is demanding John Swinney withdraw his flagship NHS restructuring plan after the BMA's Scottish council voted to oppose it. Swinney unveiled the proposal last month as the SNP's biggest NHS reform since devolution, cutting 14 health boards down to two strategic boards covering east and west mainland Scotland. Murray-Cavanagh warned the overhaul is "costly, time-consuming and resource-sapping" with no clear evidence it will benefit patients.

The SNP is pushing the restructuring as part of efforts to plug a £5 billion black hole in Holyrood's finances.

Health Secretary Angela Constance said she stood by the proposals and promised engagement with unions and NHS boards.