Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 15 December 2015
15 Dec 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Redesigning Primary Care
I am pleased to speak in this important debate. I know from the opposition parties’ amendments that the core of their argument seems to be about allocation of resources: they want more resources to be allocated to primary care. I agree with them—it would be good to allocate more resources to primary care. It would be good to allocate more resources to healthcare in general; in fact, it would be good to allocate more resources to every aspect of expenditure that is devolved to this Parliament. That is why I opposed, and will continue to oppose, the economically illiterate austerity policies of the Opposition.
The fact, however, is that we are living in an era of austerity. We saw austerity under the previous coalition Government in Westminster; now that the spending review has been published, we are seeing yet more austerity going on into the future. It might be said that that is what the people voted for in the recent Westminster election and that that was their democratic choice. It is, indeed, what the people of the United Kingdom voted for, but it is not what the people of Scotland voted for. Overwhelmingly, the people of Scotland rejected austerity.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15172, in the name of Shona Robison, on redesigning primary care for Scotland’s communities. 14:33
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
I am pleased to be opening this afternoon’s debate. I want to take the opportunity to describe my longer-term vision for primary care, building on Sir Lewis ...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the publication of those figures today, but it is regrettable that we do not have the full-time equivalent numbers. The headcount does not reflect ...
Shona Robison
SNP
No, but a survey will take place that I think will provide more in-depth analysis of some of the data to which Richard Simpson refers. I accept that there a...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I draw members’ attention to my declaration of interests as a member of the BMA and a fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners. The debate is we...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
I can give you an extra minute or so.
Dr Simpson
Lab
That is kind of you—thank you very much. Such practice or locality groups are variously referred to in different documents as clusters, networks, federation...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I need you to close now please, Dr Simpson.
Dr Simpson
Lab
Finally, I hope that the Government will publish a set of principles that it seeks to use to underpin any new contract. The task is daunting but, if we all w...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
I associate myself with the cabinet secretary’s comments about Richard Simpson. I hope that he continues to have an active role, and I am sure that he shall....
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Like the cabinet secretary, I begin by paying tribute to the staff who will be working extremely hard over the winter and the Christmas season. As I noted in...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I start, as some other members have, by thanking the staff who work in our health service. I speak as someone who represents fairly widely-flung communities ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Could you draw to a close please?
Nigel Don
SNP
All the Government has to do is provide those people with an opportunity to contribute. Our job is to make sure that they can do so effectively by ensuring t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you. I am afraid that there is not a lot of time in hand this afternoon, so I ask members to keep to six minutes. 15:18
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I put on record my appreciation for the hard work and dedication of GPs. We as a society depend on their skills, experience, hard work and sense of duty to o...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to be able to take part in this important debate. Like Jackson Carlaw, I thank the Scottish Government for the content of the motion, particular...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Sandra White
SNP
No, I am sorry, but I will not take an intervention. When we look at primary care and integration, will we have data from each local authority to show that...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
The report from Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie is a good one, which makes sensible points about the reform of out-of-hours primary practice. I agree with much ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
We all know that there are significant challenges to delivering healthcare, given the demographic trends that present us with an ever ageing and increasingly...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I am pleased that we are being given the opportunity today to discuss the way forward for primary care in Scotland. Throughout my time in Parliament, we have...
Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak in this important debate. I know from the opposition parties’ amendments that the core of their argument seems to be about allocation o...
Jim Hume
LD
Will Mike MacKenzie take an intervention?
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
No, thank you.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
No, thank you.
Mike MacKenzie
SNP
However, thanks to the democratic deficit in our constitutional arrangements—Smith or no Smith, Scotland act or no Scotland act—we are stuck with austerity. ...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I wonder whether Mike MacKenzie intends to address himself to the terms of the motion that is before us for debate th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
As Mr Carlaw knows, that is not a point of order. However, the point has been made.