Chamber
Plenary, 24 Oct 2007
24 Oct 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Waiting Times
The cabinet secretary referred to her tour of annual review meetings with Scotland's NHS boards. Along with several hundred members of the public, I toddled along to the review that Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board held in open session during the recess. The board confirmed that, following the cabinet secretary's abolition of ASCs, its systems are ready to accommodate her individual patient clocks initiative, which is a welcome point of reassurance. Has the cabinet secretary received similar assurances from the other health boards that she has yet to meet?
In contrast, members of the public waited a very long time indeed—if not quite 18 weeks—only to be told that her much-touted question-and-answer session was to be one in which no spontaneous questions could be asked. In the reviews that remain, may I urge her not to walk in fear of the public but to let them speak on waiting times and other matters, especially as the meetings are billed as including a participative element?
In contrast, members of the public waited a very long time indeed—if not quite 18 weeks—only to be told that her much-touted question-and-answer session was to be one in which no spontaneous questions could be asked. In the reviews that remain, may I urge her not to walk in fear of the public but to let them speak on waiting times and other matters, especially as the meetings are billed as including a participative element?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Nicola Sturgeon on waiting times. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of her statement, which wi...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Nicola Sturgeon):
SNP
I was asked to make a statement on the Government's approach to waiting times and I am delighted to do so. We are aiming clearly and firmly at driving waitin...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow about 25 minutes for questions, a...
Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the health secretary for her statement and for providing an advance copy. I have to say, though, that I was a bit surprised by the tone of her statem...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Margaret Curran for her questions. The last time that we debated the matter, the will of Parliament was for me to come back to the Parliament and mak...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, thank the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing for her statement. I welcome the Scottish National Party's U-turn and its full commitment to the...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Mary Scanlon for her question, and in answering it I apologise to Margaret Curran—I should have given to her the answer that I am about to give to Ma...
Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD):
LD
I also thank the cabinet secretary for an advance copy of her statement, and I welcome the continuing improvements in waiting times, which of course began un...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order. It was not my statement, Mr Finnie.
Ross Finnie:
LD
I am sorry—the statement of the cabinet secretary. I do apologise, Presiding Officer. You would never have made such a statement, because it included persona...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thank Ross Finnie for his comments and questions. I am glad that he has welcomed the improvements in waiting times, but I gently point out to him that thos...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement and for clarifying that, in many cases, there is a role for the courts in disputes over health matters, altho...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I will continue to work hard to persuade the Scottish Liberal Democrats of the sense in our policies and in the policies of their colleagues south of the bor...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I refer members to my declaration of interests, particularly my membership of the British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Can we get to the question, please?
Dr Simpson:
Lab
What has the minister done to ensure that patients will be informed? What consultation has she had with general practitioners to ensure that they are comfort...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I thought that Richard Simpson was in the chamber when I made my previous statement, but from what he has just asked me I am beginning to think that I was se...
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I want to ask about a practical issue concerning patients in NHS Lanarkshire who phone up to postpone an appointment with a consultant. In one case, a patien...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
First, as I am sure Alex Neil is aware, I think that the patient whom he has described—although I do not know all the circumstances—would, under the old syst...
Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con):
Con
The cabinet secretary referred to her tour of annual review meetings with Scotland's NHS boards. Along with several hundred members of the public, I toddled ...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I take this opportunity to pay tribute to Jackson Carlaw for sitting through the entire annual review of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde—as far I could tell, h...
James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab):
Lab
I seek further clarification on a point that was raised by my colleague Richard Simpson. In her statement, the cabinet secretary said that the new arrangemen...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Most boards are using existing IT systems to implement the new system.On the broader IT question, one of my concerns is that we have inherited a situation in...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
First, the cabinet secretary said that the new total waiting time guarantee of 18 weeks will not distort clinical priorities. Does she accept that requiring ...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
We are consulting on the issue in "Better Health, Better Care". I hope that all members contribute to that consultation, because I am interested in hearing w...
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
I am grateful that the cabinet secretary has confirmed that audiology services are to be included in the waiting time targets. However, I am aware that some ...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
As Ian McKee indicated, yesterday Shona Robison announced that audiology services will be included in the waiting time guarantee. That important step forward...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
How will the cabinet secretary ensure that strategic government and local government take a joined-up approach? For example, in Fife Council, the Liberal Dem...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Will you get to the question, Mrs Eadie?
Helen Eadie:
Lab
With respect, Presiding Officer, I have asked a question.