Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-12045, in the name of Richard Simpson, on Scotland’s future. 14:40

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I am pleased to open this debate on Labour’s motion. As usual, I draw members’ attention to my declaration of interests. The motion is wide ranging, as inde...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport (Shona Robison) SNP

Does Richard Simpson acknowledge the £40 million investment that we announced to boost primary care? I am sure that all members welcome that investment as we...

Dr Simpson Lab

I absolutely welcome the investment, and I want to acknowledge that since our Parliament reopened in 1999, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have bee...

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

The member is talking about targets. At the Public Audit Committee this morning, we heard that the number of patients who are waiting more than 12 weeks for ...

Dr Simpson Lab

That just emphasises the point. There is a scandal at the centre of this targets business. I do not mind the fact that the accident and emergency waiting ti...

Shona Robison SNP

Richard Simpson will acknowledge that there was no such guarantee under Labour. He is absolutely correct that there have been 12,000 breaches of the target, ...

Dr Simpson Lab

If, cabinet secretary, your Government had taken our advice and not made it a legal guarantee—

Shona Robison SNP

All right—so you think it should not be a legal guarantee.

Dr Simpson Lab

No, it should not be a legal guarantee. This is an—

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order. Could members speak through the chair, please?

Dr Simpson Lab

Sorry?

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I am asking you to address your remarks through the chair, please, not directly to the member.

Dr Simpson Lab

The cabinet secretary says that it is not a problem. I welcome the fact that 600,000 people—98 per cent—have been treated within 12 weeks. However, that is a...

Shona Robison SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Dr Simpson Lab

It will have to be brief.

Shona Robison SNP

Surely when more posts are created in the system it is inevitable that there will be more vacancies until those posts are filled. Does Richard Simpson not ac...

Dr Simpson Lab

If you implement the right plans and do not cut the number of specialist grades, you will get more consultants—but you cut those grades. The other thing tha...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

Will the member taken an intervention?

Dr Simpson Lab

No, I am sorry—I have taken enough interventions. That happened at a time when the birth rate had increased by 10 per cent, the number of complex births had...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport (Shona Robison) SNP

I welcome the opportunity to be able to set out the Government’s priorities. It is a great honour to be cabinet secretary for health, which comes with a grea...

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

As happens in other parts of these islands, will the cabinet secretary consider publishing the A and E waiting times on a weekly basis?

Shona Robison SNP

As Jenny Marra should know, ISD, which is independent of the Government, decides when statistics should be published. It consulted in public, as she should k...

Shona Robison SNP

Let me make some progress. It is essential that preparations are made for winter, and there has been a huge amount of preparation for this winter. So far, a...

Mary Scanlon Con

Health and social care have been integrated for two years now in the Highlands, and yet there are still people such as Debbie Michie whose discharge was dela...

Shona Robison SNP

If Mary Scanlon wants to write to me about that particular patient, I will look into the circumstances. I am not saying that this is the only answer, but it...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please.

Shona Robison SNP

We agree with the RCN on that matter.

Jenny Marra Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Shona Robison SNP

Very briefly.