Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 February 2024
21 Feb 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Primary Care (Access)
I am grateful to Fergus Ewing for the intervention. The situation is in such a state of extremis that we should explore all options, and I would be open to further discussions on that point.
To conclude, Presiding Officer, we need to be open to new and innovative ideas such as the one that we have just heard, and we need to look at plans for the recruitment and—crucially—the retention of staff. We need to prevent experienced doctors from burning out or being pushed out of the profession that they love. We need to incentivise more people to train and to work in the NHS once they qualify.
It is time to rewrite the failed NHS recovery plan, get recruitment and retention of GPs and local practice staff back on track and get past the culture of endlessly making plans for more plans.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12214, in the name of Alex Cole-Hamilton, on improving access to primary care. I invite members who wish ...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Before I begin my remarks, I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, to his place. I also recognise and welcome to his place the...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
SNP
Alex Cole-Hamilton mentioned the training of doctors of all sorts. In order to prevent the drift of newly qualified doctors to Australia, Canada and the USA ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You will need to start concluding.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
I am grateful to Fergus Ewing for the intervention. The situation is in such a state of extremis that we should explore all options, and I would be open to f...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude.
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Primary care and the entire NHS need new energy, new ideas and new hope. They need a new Government. I move, That the Parliament notes the Scottish Governm...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call the cabinet secretary, Neil Gray, to speak to and move amendment S6M-12214.2. 15:03
The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care (Neil Gray)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak in the debate as the new Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care. Scotland’s NHS is an institut...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
The cabinet secretary talks about listening to the voices and lived experience of those at the front line. Does he agree with Liberal Democrat calls for a he...
Neil Gray
SNP
The reform process that I and my colleagues will embark on will be informed by people with lived experience, people who work in our NHS, experts, academics, ...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Neil Gray
SNP
I will give way very briefly, for a final time.
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary obtain as much data as he can about the number of GPs and newly qualified doctors in general who leave this country for other coun...
Neil Gray
SNP
I would be happy to consider that. The retention of people who go through training in Scotland is critically important, as is the continued attraction of peo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I advise the chamber that there is no time in hand for this debate or the subsequent one, so members will have to stick to their speaking time allocations. I...
Sandesh Gulhane (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
I refer members to my entry in the register of interests as a practising NHS GP—I am living under the pressures that we are debating right now. I welcome the...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does the member share my concern about the news that emerged last week that NHS Borders is facing a mounting deficit and will have to cut its budget by 10 pe...
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
I could not agree any more with my colleague. Over the past two years, I have had candid discussions with patient groups, clinicians, health economists, aca...
Neil Gray
SNP
What impact and what greater strain would Sandesh Gulhane expect following Tory spending plans, which would see a further £0.5 billion reduced from our healt...
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
Perhaps the cabinet secretary will reflect on the fact that if the SNP had passed on all health consequentials that it received since it took power, we would...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Through the chair, please.
Sandesh Gulhane
Con
A modern NHS would embrace innovation and introduce the latest medical equipment. In rural and remote areas, that would include mobile screening services, an...
Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome Mr Eagle to his place and look forward to listening to his maiden speech. He will certainly have big shoes to fill replacing Mr Cameron as the repr...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I, too, welcome Neil Gray to his new post and extend a welcome across the chamber to Tim Eagle. I know what it is like to join a new class halfway through te...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Beatrice Wishart describes the shortages of medical personnel in Shetland, and I am sure that that is the case in many rural parts of Scotland—it is certainl...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Beatrice Wishart, you need to conclude.
Beatrice Wishart
LD
I think that all options should be looked at. Travel expenses are paid to patients travelling distances beyond 30 miles by road or 5 miles by sea to get to ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You are indeed, Ms Wishart. In fact, you have run out of time.
Beatrice Wishart
LD
I have plenty more to say, but I will conclude there.