Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-11984, in the name of Miles Briggs, on national health service financial accountability. I urge members w...

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con

Our Scottish national health service faces many challenges. I believe that it is the job of all of us in this Parliament to work to create a sustainable and ...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP

What impact will Brexit have on NHS staffing?

Miles Briggs Con

That is a very interesting point, because, 11 years into the SNP Government, Brexit is the excuse. The First Minister has cut training places. Any vacancies ...

Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Miles Briggs Con

I would like to make progress, but I will come back to the member later. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport will be acutely aware of the cases—I hav...

John Scott (Ayr) (Con) Con

Does the member agree that it is absolutely appalling that 33,000 bed days have been lost in NHS Ayrshire and Arran in the past year? Can he tell me the over...

Miles Briggs Con

SNP members do not like to hear the truth for some reason. Such stories are a shocking indictment of the SNP Government’s record in charge of our health and...

Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Miles Briggs Con

No. I want to make some progress. The issue is not just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it is about people’s lives—the lives of our fellow Scots and loved o...

Graeme Dey SNP

Among other things, the Conservative motion talks about IJB finances and being held to account. Will Miles Briggs join me in condemning the actions of Angus ...

Miles Briggs Con

That is why we are debating the issue today. The member needs to understand the problems that are faced by the health and social care sector in Scotland. We ...

Fulton MacGregor SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Miles Briggs Con

No. I want to make some progress. Increasingly, the budget pressures that IJBs face are directly influencing their decision making in relation to proposals ...

Miles Briggs Con

I did not have her in mind, but—

Christina McKelvie SNP

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I am interested to hear what the Conservatives say in the debate, but personal attacks, personal slights on members o...

The Presiding Officer NPA

I am alert to any personal attacks that take place. However, there is some room for robust exchanges and, on this occasion, I think that the remarks were wit...

Miles Briggs Con

I will be clear to the cabinet secretary. The mismanagement and financial chaos that are facing our NHS cannot continue. They are impacting the morale of our...

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

I will start by saying that I am immensely proud of our NHS. Our staff do an excellent job day in and day out. They often go the extra mile, as witnessed dur...

Miles Briggs Con

In 2014, the cabinet secretary stood where she is and said that she would achieve zero delayed discharges in our hospitals. When will that target be met?

Shona Robison SNP

Miles Briggs is absolutely right. I want to eradicate delayed discharge, but it is a difficult thing to do. He alluded to some of the challenges earlier on. ...

Mike Rumbles (North East Scotland) (LD) LD

The cabinet secretary will be aware that, as I have pointed out before, over the past 10 years, NHS Grampian has been short-changed by £165 million from her ...

Shona Robison SNP

As I have said to Mike Rumbles on a number of occasions, NHS Grampian is one of the biggest gainers from the NHS Scotland resource allocation committee formu...

Miles Briggs Con

As I said in my speech, I welcome the fact that the Government has accepted the reforms and has accepted the terms of our motion. Can the cabinet secretary t...

Shona Robison SNP

We will get financial data for the first two months of 2018-19 at the end of June. I am sure that, like me, Miles Briggs wants accurate, robust information, ...

Miles Briggs Con

Will the minister also publish data on past years’ situations? It is important that the Parliament see the direction of travel as well.

Shona Robison SNP

I am happy to provide that information. The 2017-18 position has already been made available to the Health and Sport Committee, but if there is any more info...

Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Another week, and more appalling figures on the performance of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport. This is not a one-off; it is the latest in a serie...

Miles Briggs Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Anas Sarwar Lab

I am in my last 30 seconds, so I will not.