Meeting of the Parliament 26 October 2022
I have a few points to make in the short time that I have.
First, I welcome the fact that discussions are on-going and that another pay offer is on the table. Whether through that offer or a future one, I hope that we can reach an agreement, because the last thing that we need in our health service is industrial action.
I make the point to the health secretary that I have met front-line workers in health and social care, as well as local and national trade unions, and they have all stressed to me that it is not all about money; it is also about the massive pressure under which all the staff are currently working and are expected to work. We must address that in order to move forward.
I acknowledge the impact of Covid. I acknowledge that for whoever is in power, these are difficult times. I also acknowledge the impact of the disastrous Brexit. There are major difficulties for the NHS that we all face, but it is key that we have confidence that the Government has a grip of the issues and has plans that will operate to tackle the problems. This is the problem that I have: I do not see any evidence that such plans are in place. Indeed, when it comes to social care, I am not convinced that the Government has a handle at all on what needs to happen. That is the problem; I will say more about it.
I say first to the Scottish Tories that the reality is that the crisis in this country has been created in Downing Street. It is an economic crisis that will play out very badly. Last week, the Daily Record reported that 216 official heat banks have been opened, in addition to the 244 food banks that we have. If we are to go through this winter with people cold and freezing and unable to feed themselves, that will put massive pressure on our health service. The really difficult thing for me is that the Tories have tanked the economy but they have the nerve—