Speaking to STV News in a personal capacity, John Ross Scott, chairman of NHS Orkney and a former Liberal Democrat leader of Scottish Borders Council, has publicly backed a Yes vote. He said

'The Scottish Government's track record of investment in health - and not being sucked into the creeping privatisation agenda of healthcare south of the border - highlight exactly why the future of the NHS in Scotland can only be secured with a Yes vote.'

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is currently in Orkney, welcomed the endorsement. The NHS in Scotland is funded from the block grant allocated to Scotland, which is calculated using the Barnett formula. Any cuts to Scotland's overall budget will affect public service provision, and cuts imposed on the NHS in England also have a knock-on effect on funds allocated for NHS Scotland. As evidence of the risk, Nicola Sturgeon pointed to warnings from Andy Burnham, Labour shadow health secretary, that the NHS in England will be pushed 'off the cliff edge' by the Tory privatisation agenda.

Nicola Sturgeon is in Orkney to answer questions from undecided voters, and is especially keen to speak to women. There will be an afternoon tea event for women at the St. Magnus Centre today from 2pm to 4pm, followed by a public Q&A open to all in the Orkney Theatre from 7pm. Both events are free to attend.