Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-17191, in the name of Monica Lennon, on urgent support for Scotland’s midwives. This is a tight debate, s...

Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Sunday was international day of the midwife, and I enjoyed seeing my social media feeds filled with cute baby photos and lovely sentiments about the special ...

The Minister for Mental Health (Clare Haughey) SNP

I thank Monica Lennon for highlighting the international day of the midwife. In Scotland, we are very fortunate to have highly educated, skilled and compass...

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Monica Lennon Lab

Will the minister take an intervention?

Clare Haughey SNP

Do I have time, Presiding Officer?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

If you wish to do so, minister.

Clare Haughey SNP

Yes, I will take an intervention.

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I call Kezia Dugdale.

Kezia Dugdale Lab

Does the minister recognise the role of midwives in providing postnatal contraception for women, particularly those in poorer communities? If so, how will sh...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I am sorry, minister—I believe that I called Kezia Dugdale instead of Monica Lennon. Would you like to deal with both interventions?

Clare Haughey SNP

Do I have time?

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I will give you time.

Monica Lennon Lab

I appreciate the minister’s explanation of future funding, but I was struck by the use of the word “if” in the amendment with regard to the plans being succe...

Clare Haughey SNP

I thank Kezia Dugdale and Monica Lennon for their interventions, which I will take in turn. I would certainly support and echo what Ms Dugdale said. It is v...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Please wind up now, minister.

Clare Haughey SNP

I know that the vast majority of midwives, maternity professionals and key stakeholders such as the Royal College of Midwives, the National Childbirth Trust ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

No, minister.

Clare Haughey SNP

In that case, I move amendment S5M-17191.2, to leave out from “understands that only” to end and insert: “agrees that the contribution of 600 NHS staff, 600...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

We are running out of time. Again, I apologise to all for the error that I made. 16:37

Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con) Con

I very much welcome this debate on Scotland’s midwives and maternity services, and I thank the Labour Party for bringing it forward. I want to start by echo...

Clare Haughey SNP

The member should be aware that we have more qualified nurses and midwives working in our NHS, with the figure up 7.9 per cent to more than 44,000 full-time ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

Minister, we are very limited for time. Mr Briggs, you still have only four minutes.

Miles Briggs Con

The key statistic that the minister needs to understand is the 114 midwives that we are short of and the pressure that that is putting on staff across our co...

Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green) Green

I welcome the debate and thank Monica Lennon for bringing the issue to Parliament. I, too, thank Scotland’s midwives for the incredible work that they do. T...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

You must close, please.

Alison Johnstone Green

It is imperative that we do all that we can to properly fund and resource midwifery services. 16:45

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD) LD

I am grateful to the Labour Party for bringing the debate to Parliament, and I assure it of our support. The debate comes hot on the heels of the internation...

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

The International Confederation of Midwives created the concept of the international day of the midwife, to which previous speakers have referred. Across the...

Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

I chose to speak in the debate because I am concerned by the Labour party’s motion. I, too, acknowledge that 5 May was the international day of the midwife,...