Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-15766, in the name of Jenny Marra, on health. I call Jenny Marra to speak to and move the motion. 14:40

Jenny Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I recognise and thank national health service staff up and down this country for the tireless and professional job that they do in caring for our sick and vu...

Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con) Con

I am bewildered. The Scottish Government’s announcement today on council tax reform is exactly the proposal that the Scottish Conservatives made last month w...

Jenny Marra Lab

I thank Jackson Carlaw for his intervention, but I was more implying his disagreement with our proposal for the extra 1p on income tax. Labour, the Liberals...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

The member talks about hospitals and local services. Do we need to have a shift in health spending towards a more preventative approach, including in GP serv...

Jenny Marra Lab

We have had a debate in the chamber before about a shift to a preventative service, but the crux of the issue is about services being delivered locally and t...

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

I am very happy to take part in the debate, which provides a timely opportunity to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of health and social care staff ...

Alex Rowley (Cowdenbeath) (Lab) Lab

Practices in Lochgelly, Rosyth and Benarty in my constituency are unable to recruit general practitioners. The same is true in Glenrothes, Leven, Methil and ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

I can give you back time for interventions.

Shona Robison SNP

Of course, that is why we are investing the additional £85 million over the next three years. We want to ensure that we help primary care to develop and over...

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Shona Robison SNP

Let me make some progress. This Government will continue to work with the professions to support staff across the NHS in adopting improved clinical practice...

Neil Bibby Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Shona Robison SNP

Just a minute. Our recently launched national clinical strategy shows how we can adapt our services to meet those challenges and ensure that we get the best...

Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Shona Robison SNP

I will give way in a minute. For hospital care, we have achieved much in recent years in streamlining patient journeys within hospitals, but more needs to b...

Neil Bibby Lab

The cabinet secretary has talked about resources and protecting the NHS budget. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has said that it needs to find more than £1 mil...

Shona Robison SNP

Along with every other board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s budget has increased to an unprecedented level. However, along with every other board, it has a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please.

Shona Robison SNP

—all of which have been invested back in front-line services. We will continue to invest unprecedented levels of resources in the health service, and we expe...

Neil Findlay Lab

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Shona Robison SNP

No, I will not just now. I have taken two interventions. Members: Ooh!

Neil Findlay Lab

There is plenty time.

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please.

Shona Robison SNP

We commissioned independent scrutiny of the options. That process was established, and it has been used three times since we came to power. It is still avail...

Neil Findlay Lab

The cabinet secretary referred to the previous cabinet secretary, who took decisions to stop closures. The cabinet secretary could take a decision now to sto...

Shona Robison SNP

Let us be clear. There are no proposals for closure of any of the services that are mentioned in the motion. None of those has come to me, and nor has their ...

Neil Bibby Lab

Did the cabinet secretary intervene?

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please.

Shona Robison SNP

None of the closures has been approved—none at all. That is, of course, unlike the record of the previous Administration. Members will understand why we fee...