The Scottish Parliament Lobbying register shows that Baillie – who is her party’s deputy leader and health spokesperson – met with representatives from private healthcare firm Newmedica in April.

Newmedica – which is owned by Specsavers – has partnered with NHS trusts in England to provide eye care services like cataract, glaucoma, and macular treatment. 

It now appears to be looking to expand into Scotland. 

READ MORE: First Scottish branch of Jeremy Corbyn’s new party to be launched

Representatives, according to the register, highlighted to Baillie the “challenges facing ophthalmology services in Scotland” – waiting times for eye care services are high – and highlighted Newmedica’s “experience”, suggesting the firm could support NHS Scotland.

The SNP have now urged party leader Anas Sarwar to come clean about the party’s “increasingly murky links” to private healthcare firms – highlighting research which found that Scottish Labour MPs have received nearly £200,000 from donors linked to private healthcare.

Earlier this year, EveryDoctor revealed that MPs had bagged more than £2.7m in donations from people with links to the private healthcare sector. 

Among those receiving the most donations was Health Secretary Wes Streeting who has pocketed a whopping £224,575.

The organisation’s research, however, also found that half of all Scottish Labour MPs – including Scottish Secretary Ian Murray (below) and Minister Kirsty McNeill – have received donations from companies or individuals linked directly or indirectly with private healthcare, worth a total of £192,071.

“Before coming to power last year, Labour’s Health Secretary Wes Streeting declared that he would ‘hold the door wide open’ to private investment in the NHS,” SNP MSP Clare Haughey told The National.

“This is at least one promise that Labour has come good on, as they increasingly involve the private sector in the NHS in England.”

(Image: PA)

She added: “The fact that Labour’s health spokesperson in Scotland is now courting private healthcare companies shows that they would do the same here if they ever got the chance.

“With private healthcare bankrolling Scottish Labour politicians, Jackie Baillie and Anas Sarwar (above) need to come clean about what their plans are for more private healthcare involvement in our NHS.

“Labour’s increasingly murky links with private healthcare firms raise serious questions over whether they would prioritise patients’ needs or private profits.

“The SNP will always protect the founding principles of our NHS and ensure that healthcare is provided based on medical need rather than the ability to pay”.

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP said: “This meeting was about what Newmedica has learned through working with NHS England and Wales on reducing waiting lists for eye treatment such as cataracts, and an opportunity to learn from their data and experience.

“In contrast, the SNP has presided over a two-tier health service privatising NHS services by the back door.

“Labour is focused on bringing down the huge waiting lists that the SNP are failing to tackle causing 800,000 Scots to wait for diagnosis and treatment in pain.”

Newmedica have been approached for comment.