Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 December 2022
22 Dec 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Maternity Services in Moray
I am just finishing up, Presiding Officer.
If you push on with model 4, mums who are coming down from Caithness will not be able to get in, because the beds will all be full, and their ambulances will just be diverted to the next hospital. If you have spent two hours strapped on a gurney to get to Raigmore, the thought of spending another two and a half hours to get to Perth or to Aberdeen is just not acceptable.
As a representative of the Highlands, I am talking specifically about Highland mums, and Caithness mums in particular. You have been told that what you are proposing on model 4 is not safe and it is not acceptable. Although I would always encourage cross-border working, to do so when you are being told that it is not safe is not something that I could ever countenance or support you in doing.
17:37In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The final item of business today is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-07192, in the name of Douglas Ross, on maternity services at Dr Gray’s hospital....
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Best wishes for the festive period to you and all the staff of the Parliament. I will give a brief bit of background to the si...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP)
SNP
I agree with Douglas Ross that the cross-party spirit around this issue is important. I share his concern that it has taken far too long to get to where we a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Douglas Ross, I can give you that time back.
Douglas Ross
Con
I am grateful, Deputy Presiding Officer. I agree wholeheartedly with what Richard Lochhead said. That laser focus must come from the health board, it must c...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Humza Yousaf)
SNP
I will come to the issue of model 4 and model 6 in my contribution, but does the member agree that, even if there was no model 4, for the sustainability of s...
Douglas Ross
Con
Of course I agree with that. My constituents who live in Brodie are far closer to Raigmore hospital than my constituents who live in Cullen, who are closer t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, Mr Ross. In the spirit of the week and the season, I am happy to gift a little extra time. 17:26
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
When Douglas Ross said that he was hoping to see “more and more”, I thought that he was going to say more of his children born there, which would have been a...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I say at the outset that Douglas Ross’s words are wise words that come from the heart, not only that of his constituents but his own, because he has been thr...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Through the chair, please, Mr Mountain.
Edward Mountain
Con
I am just finishing up, Presiding Officer. If you push on with model 4, mums who are coming down from Caithness will not be able to get in, because the beds...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I congratulate Douglas Ross on securing the debate, and I congratulate Keep MUM and the other campaigners who ensure that the issue is not forgotten. Like Ed...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I pass on my good wishes for the festive season, and I recognise the Presiding Officer’s generosity at this festive time in regard to my contribution. I who...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, Mr Carson. You might have tested to destruction the definition of relevance, but at least you did not dress it up as a point of order. Thank goodn...
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Members will be pleased that some of the points that I had intended to make have already been made, so I will be quite brief. I thank Douglas Ross for bringi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I invite Humza Yousaf to respond to the debate. 17:49
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Humza Yousaf)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I begin, as you and many others have done, by wishing everybody all the very best for the festive season—a very merry Christmas...
Douglas Ross
Con
That is a very welcome announcement, which I asked for in the motion and campaigners have been asking for. The cabinet secretary has said that he will not c...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I suspect that I will not be able to do the matter the justice that it deserves in the time that we have. I am happy, as always, to pick it up with Douglas R...
The Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s announcement, which is something that I called for when I conveyed the views of keep MUM at a meeting a few weeks ago. Wit...
Humza Yousaf
SNP
I can give assurances about that. Before I do so, I say that Richard Lochhead has perfectly articulated the integrated model that we are talking about. Let ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I am being generous, cabinet secretary.
Humza Yousaf
SNP
Good. I will try not to keep people back.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You may continue for the time being.
Humza Yousaf
SNP
How much time do I have?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you another couple of minutes.
Humza Yousaf
SNP
That would be great, Presiding Officer. It is much appreciated. I want to touch on a number of issues that have been raised directly with me. It may be bett...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, cabinet secretary. I congratulate everybody on persevering and making it through to the end of what has been a long week and a busy term. I add my...