Meeting of the Parliament 28 September 2016
The SNP is not speaking with one voice. It tells communities that their hospitals are safe and says in the chamber that it has not made a decision yet. That is not speaking with one voice; it is speaking with a forked tongue.
We and the motion are very clear. We expect a major service change at Monklands hospital, and we want that proposal to be called in and rejected. Again, the final decision will lie with the cabinet secretary.
On Inverclyde hospital, the Presiding Officer has seen before the front page of the Greenock Telegraph. Shortly before the election, no less a person than the First Minister guaranteed that the maternity services at Inverclyde hospital were safe. The cabinet secretary might want to say again that the decision on that has not been made yet, but the First Minister’s comments are pretty clear. Again, that was a proposal for closure that was not regarded as a major change.
The Royal Alexandra hospital has already been mentioned, and there can hardly be a more important issue than the future of children’s services at the RAH, which treats 8,000 children every year. Given that those changes are already recognised as major changes, nothing stands in the way of members joining colleagues and supporting our motion. That again demonstrates the Government’s inconsistency of approach when it comes to NHS cuts.
I am sure that at least one constituency MSP, irrespective of party allegiance, will put aside party loyalty, stand on the side of their constituents and be a true champion of their local NHS. I hope that others will follow Jackie Baillie’s example. Today, she will put her constituents first and vote to protect maternity services at the Vale of Leven hospital. Again, despite previous promises, that change has not been designated as a major service change.
In conclusion, I reach out across the chamber to other constituency MSPs who are affected by the proposals. We have an opportunity to put aside our party allegiances and work together to protect our local NHS services. I reach out to Ivan McKee—I am not sure whether he is even in the chamber—
Members: He is.