Six in 10 doctors surveyed in Scotland plan to vote against independence

Six in 10 doctors working in Scotland who responded to a snapshot survey by The BMJ plan to vote against separation from the UK in next month's referendum.

The survey found that 60% plan to vote "no" to independence, while just a third (33%) said they intend to vote "yes." A further 6% were undecided, while 1% said they did not plan to vote.

The results suggest that the doctors surveyed are more staunchly opposed to independence than the overall population of Scotland, which puts the "yes" vote at 37%, the "no" vote at 52%, and 11% undecided.

The BMJ's survey was sent to 2,297 doctors in Scotland to which 311 responded (a 14% response rate). Of the respondents who declared their role, 125 were GPs, 148 were hospital doctors, 13 were clinical researchers and 28 described themselves as "other" types of doctor.

Doctors were asked to assess how their views on seven specific areas influenced their voting: the economy, the standard of health and social care, the state of medical research, the level of autonomy over the healthcare system and how it is financed, the level of autonomy over medical education, the level of regulation of the medical profession, and the ability to determine laws on issues such as abortion, surrogacy, and xenotransplantation.

Of the 185 doctors intending to vote "no" 91% (166) said the most influential factor was a belief that the economy will suffer under independence.

This was followed by 72% (132) of "no" voters who said their vote was being steered by a belief that medical research in Scotland will suffer under independence, and 67% (122) who said their vote was influenced by a view that Scotland did not need its own body to regulate the medical profession.

In contrast, the most influential factor for the 104 doctors planning to vote "yes" was a view that people will get better healthcare and social care under independence, with 86% (89) citing this.

This was closely followed by 84% (87) who said their decision was influenced by their wish for Scotland to have more autonomy about its healthcare system and how it is financed.

One "no" voter said: "An independent Scotland cannot afford the current level of healthcare provision" while another felt that independence "would be very harmful for our long-term health needs here in Scotland." Among "yes" voters, one responder said independence "could make it easier for Scotland to tailor health and social care to what is needed, wanted, and works locally."