Meeting of the Parliament 28 September 2016
The debate provides a timely opportunity to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of health and social care staff across the whole of Scotland; to reflect on our record of protecting and enhancing local services; and to comment on the actions being taken to ensure that Scotland’s NHS continues to be world class. I welcome local people to the gallery.
Turning to the Labour motion, I think that it would be helpful to state the facts as initially set out in response to Jackie Baillie’s members’ business debate on the same issues on 13 September. First, no final decisions have been made about the service change proposals mentioned. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde formalised its proposals at its board meeting in August and, as we would expect, is now in the process of engaging with the affected local communities, staff and other stakeholders in order to carefully consider their views.
I encourage local people and their representatives to play a full part in the process. The proposals may well change in the light of the results of that process, which will take the form of three months of public engagement, running from September until November, on the proposals relating to the CIC, community maternity units and Lightburn hospital. It will help to inform the health board’s on-going work with the independent Scottish Health Council, which includes coming to a view on which of the service changes should be considered major. The board will reconvene following that work, probably at its meeting planned for December, and will then agree the next steps.