Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 June 2015
10 Jun 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Health
Just yesterday, directors of finance from some of our NHS boards gave evidence to the Heath and Sport Committee, and at one point I started to feel very sorry for them because of the complexity of their job—so many people are knocking on the doors of finance directors of our NHS boards. Quite rightly, people put forward their case—just as Jim Hume did a second ago—and the minister responded. That is where we have a problem, however, because everybody wants a slice of the cake; everybody—rightly—wants to be a priority when they knock at the door. Sometimes, however, we need to listen, and even though the legislation is very clear, Mr Hume appears not to be listening.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-13416, in the name of Jenny Marra, on health. I invite members who wish to contribute to the debate to pr...
Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I and other Labour members have approached today’s debate in a conciliatory way, hoping to reach a consensus on the way in which we take forward the debate o...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Jenny Marra
Lab
I would like to make a little more progress, but I will do so later. Those are significant and considered interventions from experts who do not use such str...
John Mason
SNP
Does the member agree that one of the decisions that must be made and in which the public certainly must be involved is whether we put more resource into pre...
Jenny Marra
Lab
There is a great consensus in all the reports that we have seen about the shift to preventative spend. We will approach the public debate with a programme of...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
I welcome Jenny Marra’s consensual tone. My amendment seeks to build on that tone, and I hope that it will be received in that spirit. Presiding Officer, I ...
Jenny Marra
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for her considered response, and I welcome the fact that the chief medical officer is visiting Ninewells on Monday. However, do...
Shona Robison
SNP
Of course. Indeed, that is why we have set up the whistleblowing helpline. However, that does not mean that the concern that is raised is always correct or t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I can give you two minutes back.
Shona Robison
SNP
We face a number of challenges to our health and social care system including poor patterns of health, health inequalities, rapidly changing demography, high...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Will you draw to a close now, please, cabinet secretary?
Shona Robison
SNP
Yes. That level of open engagement will seek consensus on a reform plan for health and social care by 2016, with further engagement beyond then on into impl...
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
We very much welcome this debate. Like everyone here, Scottish Conservatives greatly value the work and dedication of the staff in NHS Scotland and Scotland’...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We turn to the open debate. I ask for speeches of six minutes, please. There is not a lot of time in hand. 15:16
Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP)
SNP
I start by referring to targets in the NHS, which was a theme in the opening speeches. The briefing that the royal colleges prepared for the debate specifica...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Mr Doris, you really must close.
Bob Doris
SNP
That is a hobby horse of mine. I hope that the cabinet secretary has listened to my sales pitch for the care sector. 15:23
Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The challenge of matching NHS resources to demand for healthcare is tough everywhere, and nowhere more so than in NHS Grampian. I know the service well, not ...
John Mason
SNP
I take the member’s point about population being important. Does he agree that need and deprivation are also important?
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
Absolutely, and that is exactly what the NRAC formula is intended to reflect—population growth, need and deprivation and urban and rural populations. The Gov...
Linda Fabiani (East Kilbride) (SNP)
SNP
I welcomed the text of Jenny Marra’s motion when I read it after it was published last night, and I welcome the generally consensual and positive speech that...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
I welcome this debate on health. At a time when we often take a narrow focus and address only separate elements of the NHS, I believe—as the Royal College of...
The Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health (Jamie Hepburn)
SNP
Mr Hume has raised the issue of mental health valiantly on many occasions, and more power to his elbow in doing so, but I reiterate the point that parity bet...
Jim Hume
LD
I have replied that it does not repeat what has been done elsewhere to state the need for parity between physical health and mental health. I am happy to for...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
Just yesterday, directors of finance from some of our NHS boards gave evidence to the Heath and Sport Committee, and at one point I started to feel very sorr...
Jim Hume
LD
Dennis Robertson said that I am not listening, but although the Mental Health (Scotland) Bill states that there should be improvements in mental health, it d...
Dennis Robertson
SNP
That proves my point to some extent, because we have interpretation. The issue will be about our coming together to try to make improvements. Our nurses—perh...
Jenny Marra
Lab
Dennis Robertson referred to my remarks on the timescale of the public conversation that the RCN has called for. He is saying that we are looking for solutio...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
And your point is?