Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

Colleagues, the next item of business is a statement by Humza Yousaf on Moray maternity services. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the end of his...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Humza Yousaf) SNP

I committed to come back to the chamber to provide an update on Moray maternity services, and I am pleased to be able to do that today. I intend to set out t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues that were raised in his statement. We have slightly overrun, but I intend to protect around 20 mi...

Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I know that it is customary in the Scottish Parliament to thank the Scottish Government for making a statement, but I just cannot. I cannot, on behalf of Mor...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Mr Ross, I have given you some latitude. I am giving you some latitude, but—

Douglas Ross Con

So how long?

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You had 90 seconds. You are at around two minutes; I will give you two and a half minutes.

Douglas Ross Con

Thank you. What does the health secretary say to the 22 clinicians from NHS Highland who wrote to him today to say that model 4 remains “fundamentally flawe...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Cabinet secretary.

Douglas Ross Con

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Would you accept an emergency motion to ensure that a longer discussion can be had on this issue?

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You have suggested such a motion in the past. I accepted it in the past; I do not see the need to do so on this occasion. I gave you additional time, and you...

Humza Yousaf SNP

Given the limited time that we have this afternoon, if Douglas Ross wants to discuss these issues in more detail, I am happy to commit to a meeting with him....

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I thank the cabinet secretary for providing prior sight of the statement. My constituents in Moray are extremely concerned that model 4 is unsafe and is, at...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I cannot tell Rhoda Grant when model 6 will be delivered, because I must wait for the detail of the plan that will come to me in December. I will be happy to...

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) SNP

How will the Scottish Government continue to keep the invaluable voices and lived experience of the women and families of Moray central to its decision makin...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I can be brief and say that that will absolutely be part of our engagement as we go forward. That is not just from my point of view. Yesterday, I met members...

Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I have twice met members of the maternity team at Raigmore. I listened to them—I really listened, cabinet secretary—and they are worried about the safety of ...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I also listen to and hear the concerns of clinicians. Interruption. I notice that the Conservatives are often shouting from a sedentary position. If they wan...

Edward Mountain Con

I have read the plan. It is rude to suggest that I have not.

Humza Yousaf SNP

Presiding Officer, I can only make progress on the statement if the Conservatives do not barrack from a sedentary position. If Edward Mountain will let me re...

Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

How does NHS Grampian aim to cultivate a positive and supportive workplace culture at Dr Gray’s and its other sites?

Humza Yousaf SNP

That is crucial. We will not make progress to our final destination of model 6 unless we take staff, the clinicians and the local community with us. NHS Gram...

Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Women in Moray are being let down by a lack of services close to home. However, they are also being let down by the Scottish Government’s sheer inability to ...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I respect Carol Mochan very much, but I disagree vigorously with her on that point. We value the NHS workforce—we do not just talk the talk on that, but put ...

Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) SNP

The concerns of the consultants and staff at the maternity unit at Raigmore are essentially that the business case that was prepared by NHS Highland manageme...

Humza Yousaf SNP

In short yes, she will. That is why I have asked Linda de Caestecker to look at the concerns that were raised in that open letter from clinicians. I have not...

Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Green

It is clear that considerable effort has been put into finding a workable solution to improve maternity care for women in Moray. However, I am aware that, un...

Humza Yousaf SNP

I have tended to agree with most members of the Scottish Parliament that the situation that Moray women face is far from ideal. No one in the Government, or ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

We have just more than two minutes left and three colleagues who want to ask questions, so I ask for briefer questions and answers.

Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) SNP

How will NHS Grampian adopt robust clinical governance arrangements in the maternity service that fulfil the requirements of the clinical and care governance...