SNP criticises Labour tax bill for 2011

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has spoken out against Labour's £44 million NHS budget cut highlighting the negative impact the move will have on frontline services.

According To the SNP, the money from the National Insurance rise could fund more than 2,000 NHS nurses in the country's hospitals.

Health committee member of the political party Michael Matheson commented: "Scotland's health service is being robbed to pay for Gordon Brown's economic mismanagement.

"Scotland's NHS is already set to feel the heat of the UK's spending squeeze now Labour have used sleight of hand to cut a further £44 million from Scotland's budget."

Figures show that nearly £1.3 billion was spent by NHS boards on prescription drugs used in hospitals and dispensed in community pharmacies in the 12 months leading up to the end of March 2009.

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