Meeting of the Parliament 21 May 2014
Some facts would be helpful for this debate.
Upon his appointment as health secretary on 5 September 2012, Alex Neil examined a number of key areas in his portfolio—something that is entirely reasonable. On the morning of 26 September 2012, having reviewed proposals for NHS Lanarkshire’s mental health services, the cabinet secretary informed officials of his reservations about the health board’s plans. That afternoon, he answered a supplementary parliamentary question, in which the future of mental health services at Monklands hospital was raised. He made clear that the health board was reconsidering its plans.
On 5 November 2012, Alex Neil replied to a letter from Labour MP Pamela Nash about the future of mental health services. He informed her that he had shared his reservations with the health board.
On 14 November 2012, Siobhan McMahon asked Alex Neil an oral question about mental health services at Monklands. She stated in her question:
“the cabinet secretary has recently intervened in provision of mental health services by NHS Lanarkshire.”—[Official Report, 14 November 2012; c 13407.]
The Evening Times reported the facts on 24 January 2013, when it quoted in full a Scottish Government spokesperson, who laid out all the details. The spokesperson said:
“On September 26, Mr Neil asked officials to make his long-standing concerns about the proposed reconfiguration of mental health services across Lanarkshire known to the NHS board. His view was that acute mental health facilities would be best retained at Wishaw General and Monklands hospitals, and with a unit at Hairmyres. On September 26, after answering an oral question, Mr Neil was concerned that as Monklands was in his constituency, there could be a perception of a conflict of interest. To address this he agreed, that day that all matters related to Monklands should be dealt with by Public Health Minister Michael Matheson.”
The facts were laid out yet again on 17 February 2013, when the First Minister responded to a complaint under the ministerial code, and yet again on 5 March 2013, in an extensive release of FOI material to Labour MSP John Pentland.
Throughout this process, the facts have been clear for all to see and a matter of public record. Alex Neil intervened and made his views known. The health board then had to come forward with a revised plan not just for Monklands, but for the whole of NHS Lanarkshire. In an answer to a question on 14 November 2012, Alex Neil made it clear that the plan required ministerial approval and that decisions would be made by me, in order to avoid any perception of a conflict of interests.