Meeting of the Parliament 15 September 2021 (Hybrid)
I certainly disagree with Mr Carson—I am sure that he will not be surprised by that.
In his comments earlier today and yesterday, Dr Gulhane indicated that he had been seeing patients in his practice on Monday. I welcome the fact that Dr Gulhane is doing that, but GPs have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic. They have been seeing patients face to face, and to suggest otherwise is unfair to GPs and their staff.
GPs are not happy with that characterisation. I will read a short extract from a reply that I received from a GP in my constituency after I wrote to them on behalf of constituents. They said:
“My complaint is that I feel you and your colleagues are engaging in lazy politics. You know we are working in a pandemic and you must be aware of the demands but yet regularly we receive emails from yourselves (and I know from other practices they have the same issue) going over the same issues ie when will you see patients face to face. We do see patients face to face and have always been doing so.”
[Interruption.] Sorry, but I cannot give way—I have already taken one intervention.
That goes back to the comments that Sue Webber made earlier and the comments of Douglas Ross on 1 September. The conversation continued for a couple more emails and then ended.
The email from that GP clearly shows frustration at MSPs spreading mistruths, and it does no one any favours to perpetuate that myth. Hearing the Tories in this chamber making those claims again today highlights yet again the lack of regard that they have for GPs. On how the debate should be framed, the argument about GPs seeing the same number of patients face to face is different from what the Tories are attempting to argue.
I know that the current situation does not suit everyone and that there is a demand to return to GPs seeing people face to face more regularly. However, I also know that some constituents have appreciated and like the telehealth and e-health that have been offered, although I accept that they do not suit everyone. [Interruption.]