Committee
Public Petitions Committee, 28 Jun 2005
28 Jun 2005 · S2 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Current Petitions
NHS Scotland <br />(National Specialist Services) (PE791)
The petition was prompted by NHS Greater Glasgow's proposal to close the 15-bed in-patient unit at the Glasgow homoeopathic hospital. Members might or might not be aware that, about a month ago, the board decided not to proceed with the proposal.However, the petition also raises more general issues. It is noticeable that the chief executive of NHS Argyll and Clyde, who is soon to be no more—I do not necessarily mean that personally, but it is probably the case—says that his board sees no reason for a review of the policy objectives of a national designation. I do not know why we wrote specifically to Argyll and Clyde, but I suspect that that view, which mirrors the Executive's response, is being put forward on behalf of the NHS centrally.My concern at not receiving a response from NHS Greater Glasgow is based not only on my concern for the unit, in relation to which a decision has been made, but more generally on the fact that, from time to time, ministers or organisations show the committee the discourtesy of not providing a response. Convener, I can only repeat my earlier point in saying that you could perhaps be proactive by phoning the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and asking him for a response, even though matters have moved on somewhat.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
PE791, by Brian McAlorum, calls on the Scottish Parliament to review the criteria and funding mechanisms for national specialist services provided to NHS Sco...
Mike Watson:
Ind
The petition was prompted by NHS Greater Glasgow's proposal to close the 15-bed in-patient unit at the Glasgow homoeopathic hospital. Members might or might ...
The Convener:
Lab
I am more than happy for that to be done. I will clarify why there was a response from Argyll and Clyde. We wrote to the national services advisory group, an...
John Scott:
Con
We should do that, and perhaps we should consider that it might find it easier to come and speak to the committee directly if it is having difficulty in putt...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
My colleague Sandra White was prominent in the campaign to retain the homoeopathic hospital and would want me to say that she is glad that the petition has t...
The Convener:
Lab
That is a good suggestion and I am more than happy to find out whether there has been a change in perspective now that we have a change at the top. I am also...
Mike Watson:
Ind
Even if the board did not want to respond before the decision was made, it could have done so in the six weeks that have passed since then.
The Convener:
Lab
Are members happy that we do that?Members indicated agreement.