The NHS is “dying before our very eyes”, the chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland will warn today. Dr Iain Kennedy will sound the alarm after a survey found almost a third of Scots (29 per cent) said they or someone they lived with had used private care in the past two years. In a speech to the BMA鈥檚 annual representative meeting in Liverpool, Dr Iain Kennedy will say it is 鈥渁bundantly clear鈥 there is now a divide in Scotland between those who can afford private healthcare and those 鈥渓anguishing鈥 on NHS waiting lists. And he will warn the situation is likely to only get worse, as 43 per cent of respondents said they are now more likely to go private. Dr Kennedy is expected to say: 鈥淥ur NHS should be free at the point of need. But, through today鈥檚 research, I can reveal that almost a third of Scots say either they or someone in their household have had to use private healthcare within the last two years. “Our survey showed that the majority are forced to do so, as waiting lists are simply too long. They just can鈥檛 get the timely care they need. And it will only get worse, because 43 per cent of those surveyed feel they are now more likely to go private. “It is abundantly clear that Scotland has been divided into those who can afford private healthcare and those languishing on ever longer NHS waiting lists. 鈥淣ow, I don鈥檛 believe anyone made an active choice to pursue this path towards a private health service. Rather, it is a failure to get to grips with an evolving population and its health needs. But, be in no doubt, the NHS is dying before our very eyes.鈥 Diffley Parternship surveyed 1,203 Scots on behalf of the BMA between May 30 and June 4. It found 17 per cent of respondents had accessed private medical care in the past two years and 14 per cent said a member of their household had. A total of 64 per cent of those who reported accessing private care for themselves or someone they lived with said it was because the NHS waiting list was too long. Of those who accessed private care, 45 per cent used personal savings and 20 per cent said they had to cut back on leisure activities. Another 9 per cent had to cut back on essential items such as energy and groceries, while 9 per cent had to borrow money to fund private treatment. Nearly half (46 per cent) of those who did not use private care in the past two years said it was because they could not afford to. Some 43 per cent said their likelihood of using private healthcare had significantly or somewhat increased in the past few years. Meanwhile, 63 per cent of respondents said their confidence in being able to access a timely hospital appointment through the NHS had significantly or somewhat decreased in the past few years, and 60 per cent said the same for GP appointments. In his speech today, Dr Kennedy is expected to say: 鈥淭he chance to save our NHS remains. If we want to provide timely care to all, which is free at the point of need, then immediate action is required. 鈥淲e did ask the Scottish Government for a national conversation but were largely ignored. So, instead, NHS reform must now happen.鈥 He will add: 鈥淭he impact of the Scottish Government repeatedly ignoring the warnings made by the BMA and many others is clear. Patients are suffering, unable to access the care they need when they need it, or having to use their own hard-earned money to go private. 鈥淓veryone knows it is unacceptable.That鈥檚 why BMA Scotland will continue to shine a light on the dire state and worsening position of the Scottish NHS. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 why we will go on fighting for our members, for our patients, and for a better future for Scotland鈥檚 health service.鈥 Tens of thousands of Scots receive our daily newsletter – subscribe here today Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane, who is a practising GP, said: 鈥淚f BMA Scotland鈥檚 devastating warning doesn鈥檛 rouse failing SNP ministers, nothing will. Scotland鈥檚 NHS is on life support thanks to 18 years of chronic mismanagement by the Nationalists. 鈥淭he fact that so many Scots are having to raid their life savings to go private for treatment isn鈥檛 just unfair, it鈥檚 immoral and at odds with the founding principles of our health service. The ability to access care should not be determined by the size of your bank balance.鈥 Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 鈥淭his damning research shows the SNP has taken a wrecking ball to the founding principles of our NHS and left too many Scots without free and available healthcare in their hour of need. 鈥淛ohn Swinney must heed these stark warnings from those on the frontline of his NHS crisis. It is a scandal that so many Scots are spending their life savings or being plunged into debt to pay to get the care desperately they need. 鈥淭he truth is if the SNP had any answers we would have seen them by now 鈥 our NHS needs a change in direction and a change in government.鈥 SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray said: 鈥淲e will always protect the founding principles of the NHS 鈥 publicly owned and free at the point of need. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are investing a record 拢21.7 billion in health and social care this year, including 拢106 million to deliver over 150,000 additional appointments and procedures. 鈥淏ut we recognise some of the concerns raised by the BMA, and we are determined to deliver the reform our NHS needs to ensure it provides quality care for everyone who needs it now and into the future. 鈥淭he First Minister set out his plan to renew our health service by investing in prevention while harnessing technology to support earlier diagnosis and tailor medical treatment to individual patients.鈥