Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 November 2016
02 Nov 2016 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Health Service
I recognise that, but the issue is the impact on healthcare in Lothian. As I said, constituents are coming to see me who have been told that they have to wait seven months before they can have a consultation—yet we are told that they have 12 weeks to wait.
Sometimes in politics, reports are published that should act as a wake-up call for the Government of the day. I have no doubt that Audit Scotland’s publication of its report last week is one such occasion. I began by paying tribute to those who work in our health service. I am sorry to say that, increasingly, it seems that they are lions led by SNP donkeys.
16:46In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-02232, in the name of Donald Cameron, on the national health service in Scotland. 16:21
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The subject of the debate is, of course, Audit Scotland’s report “NHS in Scotland 2016”. The report is now a week old. The picture that it paints of the NHS ...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Donald Cameron for giving way. Does he accept that shifting of services out of acute hospitals into the community might make targets harder to reach—...
Donald Cameron
Con
As I was saying, in 2008, Audit Scotland said that despite the Government’s policy of shifting the balance of care closer to home, there was “no evidence av...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
Audit Scotland has provided a balanced overview of the NHS and has made several recommendations, which we accept in full. As we consider the report, we have...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Shona Robison
SNP
I will, in a second. The strategy is founded in our twin approaches of investment and driving reform. It underpins our 2020 vision, and will be delivered th...
John Scott
Con
On transformational reform, are you aware that at Ayr hospital between April and September this year there were a total of 7,594 missed appointments, which r...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I ask members to speak through the chair.
Shona Robison
SNP
I agree with John Scott that missed appointments are a challenge that we need to address. Boards are looking at ways of addressing that challenge through tex...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Can you wind up, please?
Shona Robison
SNP
As I bring my remarks to a close—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You will have to stop. I am sorry—we are very tight for time.
Shona Robison
SNP
I move amendment S5M-02232.3, to leave out from first “believes” to end and insert: “recognises that health and care services face increasing demand pressur...
Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the cabinet secretary to the chamber. It is nice to see her twice in one day, with nobody to hide behind. Last week, Audit Scotland published its ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. It is a tight four minutes for speakers; I will try to give time for interventions, but please make them short. 16:42
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Our NHS workforce does an amazing job. What is clear is that none of the criticism of the performance of NHS Scotland is aimed at the work that staff do to d...
Shona Robison
SNP
Will the member give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is in his last minute, I am afraid, so unless it is very short—
Miles Briggs
Con
I will give way if it is very quick.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Very short.
Shona Robison
SNP
Does Miles Briggs recognise the £200 million investment in the elective centres, the aim of which is absolutely to address the future requirement of his cons...
Miles Briggs
Con
I recognise that, but the issue is the impact on healthcare in Lothian. As I said, constituents are coming to see me who have been told that they have to wai...
Ash Denham (Edinburgh Eastern) (SNP)
SNP
There are significant challenges facing our beloved NHS. Some of them are very serious and will require new ways of working, some will require creativity and...
Miles Briggs
Con
Does the member acknowledge that, since 2010, the UK Conservative Government has provided £1.46 billion in Barnett consequential funding for our health servi...
Ash Denham
SNP
That money has been passed on, but would the member want the Scottish Government to follow the example of the Conservative Government in England, which has l...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I declare an interest as my wife and daughter both work in the NHS. No member in the chamber should be under any illusion that the publication of the Audit ...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I thank Audit Scotland for its far-reaching and detailed report and for the crucial recommendations that it has made. The report rightly criticises the Gove...
Donald Cameron
Con
I do not accept the charge that we have not produced proposals. We produced a 15-point plan, which contains a number of ideas, and we have tried to create a ...
Alison Johnstone
Green
It is fair to say that the NHS is having to deal with the impact that Tory austerity has had on many of our most vulnerable citizens, and that this Parliamen...