John Swinney promises no compulsory redundancies in NHS Scotland reform

The first minister has promised his plans to reduce the number of health boards in Scotland will not result in compulsory redundancies.

John Swinney would not be drawn on the scale of job losses likely following his proposals to cut the number of mainland boards from 14 to two.

He told BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast he would "work collaboratively" with trade unions on a reform programme that will mean a reduction in public sector jobs.

Swinney said: "I will maintain the no compulsory redundancy commitment. There is no question about that in my mind."

The pledge came after Matt McLaughlin, head of health at the union Unison Scotland, said officials would be pressing ministers to ensure the NHS redundancy commitment was honoured.

The plans for reforming the shape and size of the health service in Scotland were set out by Swinney in his programme for government speech on Tuesday.

There are currently 14 territorial health boards, a number that would be cut to two in the proposals. Details have yet to be confirmed for what happens with the Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles boards.

The first minister said his proposals would free up more time and capacity for treatment.

On the issue of job losses, Swinney told Radio Scotland Breakfast: "I have said that for all the time I have been first minister that there will be a need for public sector employment to fall.

"I have to live in the realities of the financial situation we face but I also need to ensure that we deliver sustainable services and improvements in services to members of the public."

He highlighted the expansion of the hospital at home service and said a family recently told him it was of "enormous benefit".

Swinney would not be drawn on the scale of job losses but said the NHS's no compulsory redundancy commitment was an "essential part" of the reforms.

He added the health service had to be redesigned to reflect the fact that people were living longer.

Swinney told the programme: "That means change. That means doing things differently but it will always be done with patients at the heart and with good dialogue with patients and staff."

The first minister said he wanted people to have "equal access to the health service" but the administrative arrangements of health boards "put obstacles in the way of doing that".

Earlier this week, NHS boards were told that caring for patients in corridors is "unacceptable", under new Scottish government plans to clear bottlenecks in hospitals.

Swinney also told the programme he wanted to create a "seamless service" for social care as the current system has "too many lines of accountability".

This would involve the NHS rather than councils having control, in a bid to reduce delayed discharge.

His proposals will not necessarily affect the operation of the national health boards that run the Scottish ambulance service or those that provide procurement and other support to the NHS.

Final decisions will only be taken after consultation.