Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14408, in the name of Tim Eagle, on improving access to health and social care in rural...

Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I remind members that my wife is a general practitioner partner in a practice in Buckie and that I previously served for five years as a councillor in Moray....

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes) SNP

In the spirit of commending workers in rural areas, I note that one advantage of smaller teams is that they are able to adapt, innovate and trial things more...

Tim Eagle Con

I agree. I do not have time to go into this in my speech, but I would argue that some of the centralisation in relation to community treatment and care nurse...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Before we move to the open debate, I advise members that we are heavily oversubscribed for this debate. It is inevitable that we will have to extend it by ha...

Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) SNP

I thank Tim Eagle for, as he said, giving us all the opportunity to raise important matters. I wish to focus, as I have intimated to the cabinet secretary, o...

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Fergus Ewing SNP

Yes.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Be very brief, cabinet secretary.

Neil Gray SNP

I have met Fergus Ewing and those GPs’ colleagues, whose advice I am very grateful for. I hope that he will accept that I have also provided clear guidance a...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You need to conclude.

Fergus Ewing SNP

I appreciate that the cabinet secretary’s intentions are entirely honourable and good. I entirely accept that. However, as a former minister, I gently say to...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

We need to move on. I call Finlay Carson. You have up to four minutes. 17:15

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

I congratulate Tim Eagle on bringing this crucial topic to the chamber. Living in rural Scotland remains a massive challenge and it is certainly not getting...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You need to conclude.

Finlay Carson Con

In nobody’s mind is 90 miles “close to home”.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

You need to conclude.

Finlay Carson Con

Once again, I urge the cabinet secretary to consider an urgent review of the matter.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Neither of the last two speeches has been within four minutes. We will need to do better, otherwise members who want to speak in the debate will be deprived ...

Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

I congratulate Tim Eagle not just on securing tonight’s debate but on the tour de force speech that he gave on issues affecting his constituents—our constitu...

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Lab

I, too, thank Tim Eagle for securing the debate. Access to health and social care in the Highlands and Islands is poor, which is borne out by the Scottish H...

Neil Gray SNP

On Rhoda Grant’s point about social care, the progress that we are seeking to make in relation to a national care service is about enshrining a human rights-...

Rhoda Grant Lab

I agree that a human rights-based approach to budgeting must be taken at all levels to meet people’s human rights. That was clear from the Scottish Human Rig...

Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Con

As other members have done, I thank Tim Eagle for bringing the debate to the chamber. The number of speakers and the pressure that is being brought to bear h...

Neil Gray SNP

I hope that the member will recognise that, along with the constituency member, Kate Forbes, I met residents and family members at Moss Park and that interve...

Jamie Halcro Johnston Con

Saved for how long? That is the problem. What will the loss of care provision mean for the Belford hospital, which is itself in need of replacement? I joine...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con

I am grateful to my colleague Tim Eagle for bringing forward this debate on rural healthcare. At 5 past 4 this afternoon, just over an hour ago, I received ...

Neil Gray SNP

Will the member write to me with the details of that case? We are investing in making sure that we can get through the waiting lists and are using the nation...

Rachael Hamilton Con

I am very grateful to Neil Gray for that response and will certainly write to him. I have also written to him in the past couple of days to invite him to com...

Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD) LD

I thank Tim Eagle for raising this important topic in the chamber. In addition to the list of facilities that need replacement that is included in the motion...