The chairman of BUPA's declaration for the No campaign has been cited as a reminder for why a Yes vote will protect Scotland's health service.

Pro-independence group NHS for Yes have said that the announcement should 'hardly come as a surprise' and that a vote against independence would see a 'financially weakened' NHS Scotland.

Co-founder of NHS for Yes, Dr Willie Wilson said: 'The news that Lord Leitch, chairman of BUPA, is to support a No vote in the Referendum, can hardly come as a surprise. BUPA is a major provider of health insurance and its activities facilitate the penetration of the healthcare market by private companies.

'Private health care is a burgeoning industry in the south east of England. The Scottish government, with agreement of all the parties in Holyrood, has made it clear that they will not allow privatisation of healthcare in Scotland. The small sums spent - well under 1% of the total budget - on private work by NHS Scotland have largely been required to shorten waiting lists. 

'The immediate danger of a No vote to NHS Scotland lies mainly in the £25 billion of additional austerity cuts which are promised from Westminster from next year. Since our NHS budget uses 40% of our total block grant, and so many savings have already been made in other spending departments, NHS Scotland would inevitably suffer cuts if rhye was a No vote.

'Multinational healthcare companies are currently enjoying a feeding frenzy with English NHS contracts already exceeding £10 billion. Thus it is absolutely clear that if we reject the opportunity of independence next week, we would see a financially weakened NHS Scotland which the privatisation vultures would rapidly try to pick their way into. That is why it is vital that Scotland votes Yes.'