Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 May 2018
02 May 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Health Service (Financial Accountability)
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 ones. The cabinet secretary and the SNP Government must get a grip of the situation.
That is why the Scottish Conservatives have called for specific action and for the strengthening of the Parliament’s oversight and scrutiny of our NHS finances. That is why we have called in our motion for the cabinet secretary to publish the full details of the current financial position of every NHS board and integration joint board, which is information that I believe we should all have. The Scottish Government should commit to provide Parliament with monthly updates.
I welcome the email that the cabinet secretary sent to me at half past 12 today, which accepted those very points and outlined how she will take forward enhanced reporting of NHS finances, which will begin in June. I have other asks that I will be making beyond that.
Perhaps the most concerning issue that we should be highlighting today is that the financial crisis in our NHS that is being faced by the 31 integration joint boards has yet to be revealed.
In the same item of business
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.