The real problem is that the Scots are old. Generally speaking, from a healthcare perspective, young people are productive and cheap. Old people are less productive and expensive.

Much as everyone moans about immigration, for reasons I really don't understand, it has ensured that the UK is reasonably young - but not Scotland.

Given that the Scots already have the lowest life expectancy in the UK (lower than any other region by between 1.3 and 2.5 years), if I were 55 and Scottish I would be very alarmed right now.