Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 January 2015
14 Jan 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scotland’s Future
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 know, and came up with the publication of A and E performance information on a monthly basis, which will take place from February onwards. If Jenny Marra does not think that that is correct, she should take that up with ISD. I think that publication on a monthly basis is correct, and that is what will happen.
Jenny Marra rose—
In the same item of business
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.